The stage at L’Espace in Nyamirambo moved with rhythm and quiet intensity as artists from across the Great Lakes region opened the Isôoko Great Lakes Festival, which runs from November 6 to 9. What began as a soft, moonlit evening quickly turned into a vibrant gathering of dancers, actors, musicians and storytellers who came to share work shaped by history, identity and the emotional weight of the region. ALSO READ: Survey on Rwanda's creative, cultural industries highlights work ahead This year’s edition unfolds across several venues, including L’Espace in Nyamirambo, the Goethe Institute and Kimisagara Maison des Jeunes. Each space hosts performances, workshops and conversations that bring together artists from Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The festival takes its name from the Kinyarwanda word Isôoko, which means “source.” True to that idea, it positions itself as a wellspring of creativity and a meeting point for cross-border exchange. With free entry throughout the week, the organizers hope it becomes a space that invites people in, whether they are longtime art followers or curious first-timers. ALSO READ: Govt launches nationwide artists mapping to strengthen creative economy Dida Nibagwire, co-founder of L’Espace, said Isôoko was created to close a cultural distance that has quietly existed among neighbouring countries. “There has been a gap in what we do and what our neighbours do,” she said. “The festival was born from a desire to bring together artists from Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to imagine together, create together and share knowledge.” Nibagwire added that the programme includes a puppetry performance by the Kenya Institute of Puppetry, designed especially for young audiences in Kimisagara. The goal, she said, is not only to showcase work but to strengthen networks among regional artists so they can move their work more freely and collaborate more often. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s new sports city sets pace for urban growth and creative economies in Africa “We meet a lot in festivals abroad, but rarely in our own spaces,” she said. “We have beautiful stories, untold stories, even painful stories. The question is how we come together and give them life in a collective way.” Among the opening performers was Etienne Fils Ndikumana from Kubasha, a Kimisagara-based dance group composed entirely of artists with disabilities. For him, taking the stage marked a turning point. “We are proud to be the ones opening the festival,” he said. “It shows how far we have come. We started our group in 2018, but only began gaining recognition in 2023. This is a breakthrough. We believe this art can one day sustain us and take us far.” Ndikumana said their work is not only artistic expression but also a form of activism. He noted that society still reduces many people with disabilities to stereotypes or pity, and Kubasha performs to challenge that perception. “When people hear that we dance, they doubt it is possible,” he said. “But once they see us perform, their thinking changes. When they see us on stage, they start to believe in themselves too.” From the DR Congo, artist Josh Masheka presented Trio Makila, a piece whose title means “blood” in Lingala. He described it as a reflection on the ways blood unites people and, at times, divides them. Bringing the work to Kigali, he said, was shaped by the realities of the region. “My experience in this performance was very challenging because of the situation in the region,” he said. “But as an artist, I focused on my profession and showed that this piece is more than an artistic performance. It is a statement of resilience and connection.” Burundian actress and theatre director Laly Sangano, attending the festival, said the energy of the first night set the tone for the days ahead. She described the atmosphere as quietly moving. “I loved how it began. The moon rose beautifully as the festival started and everything felt calm, soft and inviting,” she said. “The first performance felt like someone was waking me up and saying, ‘Come on, let us step into something new.’” For Sangano, Isôoko carries a deeper meaning that goes beyond the performances. “Bringing together the countries of the Great Lakes to create a shared source of inspiration is a beautiful dream,” she said. “It is a chance to give life to stories that have not been told between us for years.” Isôoko’s variety gives the festival its power. It gathers dancers, actors and storytellers into one flowing conversation and lets the region listen in. For the Great Lakes, it becomes a reminder that art still has the ability to connect places that history has tried to pull apart.
