A total of 45 contestants were selected across five creative disciplines during the ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi auditions held at Kimisagara Youth Centre in Kigali, which concluded on Friday.
Launched in 2018 by the Imbuto Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Arts, ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi is a nationwide talent search initiative that identifies and mentors young Rwandan creatives, helping them nurture their talents and build careers in the creative industry.
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The auditions took place over three days, bringing together young creatives competing in five categories: fashion, filmmaking, music, written literature and visual arts.
The first day featured auditions in fashion and filmmaking, followed by written literature and visual arts on the second day. The auditions concluded on Friday with music performances that showcased Rwanda’s cultural heritage through diverse musical styles.
The performances featured a range of genres, including gospel, R&B and hip-hop, among others. However, most contestants drew inspiration from traditional Rwandan music, commonly known as gakondo. Male participants made up the majority of the music contestants.
Following the auditions, a jury comprising Igor Mabano, Christiane Uwase Bukuru and Philippe Kenny Mirasano selected 11 music contestants to advance to the next stage.
Of the 45 contestants selected across all five disciplines, music had the highest representation, with 11 contestants, followed by fashion with 10. Filmmaking accounted for nine contestants, while written literature had eight and visual arts seven.
Following the auditions, the selected contestants will enter an incubation programme running from October 28 to December 28. The programme will offer category-specific mentorship, joint learning sessions and continued support to develop the finalists’ creative projects.
A final showcase, jury assessment and award ceremony are scheduled for January 15, 2027. During the event, between three and five contestants in each discipline will receive awards.