Traditional music lovers were treated to mesmerizing performances by different African cultural singers and dancers during the second edition of Iteka African Cultural Festival at Institut Francais, Kimihurura, on Friday evening. It was a moment when African culture and traditional music came alive. The main event was preceded by an exhibition of young African entrepreneurs, cultural dances and music, fashion and live painting which brought together several fashion designers, artistes and dancers. Organised by Iteka Youth Organisation in collaboration with Yan events, the festival aims at celebrating the world day for African and Afro-descendant culture and promoting peace, social cohesion and unity to create encounters for people of diverse backgrounds through the performing art of different artists combined with workshops and discussions. Under the theme ‘Art as a tool for humanity’ the festival brought people of all age groups, various nationalities and diverse backgrounds together and provide the opportunity to elaborate together on the meaning of peace and what it requires to create peaceful societies in Africa and anywhere in the world. The annual festival hosted an all-female Burundian dance troupe called Abeza Ba Karanga, Burundi’s Himbaza and Intwari clubs, Danny collection and Iteka Band. Rwanda’s famous dance troupe Intayoberana also put on a memorable show for the people who had attended and didn’t seem to get enough of their stunning dance moves. Gakondo group ‘Iganze’ also got people out of their seats as they sang some of the famous Gakondo songs that had Rwandans join them on stage. Arsene ndikumana, a volunteer at Iteka Youth Organization and founder Himbaza club said that they had been preparing for this festival for a while and they were impressed by the people who came through to support them. “We started on time because people really came through early; it was amazing for the organizers and the people because they really enjoyed what we had prepared for them. For the next edition we are planning to bring more activities and performers and mostly our target is to bring more African countries that we didn’t host this year to learn each other’s cultures. Rwanda- based Burundian Grace Niyonkuru, who had attended the festival, told The NewvTimes that she was invited by her fellow Burundians who were performing their traditional dance at the festival. “I came to support my culture because if not me then who else will do it? This was an amazing experience as well to watch other cultural dances from different African countries and actually learn a few things about them. It was very fun to see Africans coming together to celebrate their cultures, I definitely urge others to attend the next festival,” said Niyonkuru. Iteka Youth Organization is a non-governmental youth organization based in Rwanda founded by Yannick Niyonzima with an aim of empowering and supporting young people through educational, socio-economical, arts and sports projects to discover, develop and use their potentials for a peaceful society.
