Cultural festival to attract 40 countries
Rwandan cultural dancers doing their thing
At least 40 countries from around the world are expected to participant in the eighth edition of the Pan African Dance Festival (Fespad), slated for February 23, 2013.
According to the RDB Head of Tourism and Conversation, Rica Rwigamba, the festival is expected to promote tourism, investment, and sell a good image of the country in general.
“Fespad is in line with Rwanda’s strategy of showcasing our unique cultural heritage to the entire World through dance,” Rwigamba said. She added that the festival will create a platform to position Kigali as international events destination while promoting the great aspect of Africa unity through dance.
The festival is being organized by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Ministry of Sports and Culture (Mijespoc); under the theme “The spirit of expression.”
The continental dance competition will focus on traditional dances and hold dance workshops that will include Salsa, Hip hop and Kinyarwanda dances as it was the case of the 7th edition in 2010.
The Fespad festival was initiated in Rwanda in 1998, and it’s held every two years. The event was endorsed by the 67th ministerial meeting of the African Union countries in the same year.
The Fespad event will however be preceded by another East African Community festival dubbed ‘Jam Fest’ which will take place on the February 11th to 16th, 2013. According to, Lawrence Makuza, the ministry official, the two events will be an added value to the promotion of the country’s image.
