The Ubumuntu Arts Festival is set to return to Kigali this July with a powerful program celebrating healing, humanity, and the transformative power of the arts. Taking place from July 14 to 20, 2025, the festival will once again gather artists, cultural thinkers, and peacebuilders from around the world for a week of performances, discussions, and community engagement.
Founded in 2015 by renowned Rwandan theatre director and peacebuilder Hope Azeda, the festival has grown into one of Africa’s most respected platforms for socially conscious art. Over the past decade, Ubumuntu has welcomed artists from more than 30 countries and has become a global space for reflection on peace, justice, and human dignity.
“Ubumuntu is more than a festival—it’s a calling,” said Hope Azeda, the Festival’s Curator and Founder. “It’s a call to remember our shared humanity, to tell the stories that hurt and heal, and to stand together in truth and empathy. Every performance, every conversation, is a step toward collective healing and transformation.”
This year’s edition includes a range of events that highlight the festival’s mission of empathy and social justice through art. The festival will open on July 14 with Mental Health Day, a full day dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, particularly among artists and creatives. The program includes workshops, performances, and open conversations aimed at breaking stigma and promoting emotional well-being.
On July 15, the Memory Caravan will take the festival beyond the city, reaching out to communities affected by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. This mobile initiative brings storytelling, art, and healing activities to survivor communities, fostering intergenerational dialogue and amplifying voices that are often left unheard.
July 16 and 17 will feature the Cultural Diplomacy Unconference, an informal convening of global artists, cultural leaders, and policymakers to explore how the arts can influence global understanding and policy. This space will prioritize human stories, shared learning, and creative problem-solving over traditional formats.
On the evening of July 17, the festival will present Music is Humanity & Ikaze Night, a concert featuring African and international performers. The event celebrates the universal language of music and its power to unite and uplift.
The festival will conclude with Ubumuntu Classic, a three-night grand finale running from July 18 to 20 at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre. These evening performances, running from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, will feature a curated selection of global acts in theatre, dance, spoken word, and multimedia, all centered on themes of memory, identity, resilience, and hope.
“Ubumuntu,” a Kinyarwanda word meaning “being human,” reflects the spirit of a festival deeply rooted in compassion, storytelling, and community. What began as a grassroots initiative has become a beacon of peace and cultural resistance, drawing thousands of attendees each year—including students, artists, peacebuilders, and policymakers.
The festival continues to position Rwanda as a global hub for peacebuilding through the arts and offers a space for shared reflection and creative exploration.
For more information about the festival program and registration, visit www.ubumuntuartsfestival.com.