IGIHE

Category: Arts & Culture

  • 2013 Can be Start of Road to Hillywood

    Our new edition is near, and we are excited about what’s to be expected of our 9th anniversary, it’s indeed great news for local filmmakers.

    Our chosen theme is quite a subject for Rwanda, something that has been in play for the past decade.

    The role of women in Rwanda has been a guideline for the rest of the world, a model that every other country out there is willing to adopt and fully intergrate within their system.

    From governance, to gender equality promotion, Rwanda has the driving city on the rainbow train and we are still on the road and reaching farther.

    As a culture event, a unique rendezvous for filmmakers in Rwanda, across the African continent and other part of the world, RFF is yet putting another Oscar of pride in Rwanda women’s baskets, by celebrating their greatness through cinema and other cultural event around the festival.

    “Our Mothers, Our Heroes” is a challenge for local filmmakers, a call for action, tell your stories, say thank you mama through a film, documentary, action, and feature, experimental… we’re open to all medium.

    Though the celebration of women goes beyond the hills of Rwanda, our focus on local filmmakers is particular because we want them to realize how much, the RFF is and shall serve as their first medium of reaching a wide range of Rwanda’s filmgoers.

    This year, our Hillywood program will go beyond simple screenings, by involving dialogue between filmmakers and the audience, an occasion for them to exchange and know what should be expected from each other.

    Each and every one of us is at the helm of the creation of a film industry in Rwanda.

    We have a lot to offer, great landscape, a dynamic folk and of course our safe haven for business can be turned into a safe haven for film production.

    Before we can get more of the international production, it is to us to make the first step by developing our own voice and invite the world to share it with us.

    The start might be hard, but that is what it takes for any great achievement, hardness is no stranger.

    As a platform for filmmaker, RFF doesn’t want to just screen films; we are evolving beyond that by bringing more to the public and local filmmakers.

    Through exchange with international and other local professionals, workshops in various fields (lighting, camera and film editing), but most importantly a panel on how we can build our own industry, create an audience for own films, tell our own stories, and build something that will attract a much board audience both in Rwanda and other part of the world.

    The RFF invites you all to grab your cameras, go and produce something, express yourself.

    All medium are welcome, even for some great stories, project yet not finished can also be shown during the festival.

    We are also encouraging filmmakers to work on shorts, as there will be a lot of open possibilities for them, from simple online streaming, to public screening in local cafes and bars, hotels as well as in and out going international flights from Rwanda.

    We are working to build both a space for filmmakers at same time educate an audience by opening them to a new wave of upcoming masters of film in Rwanda, thus involving all possible medium of accessibility to all is one of the main focus of RFF and this edition will be like no other, so come an be part of the change, celebrate and be celebrated at HIllywood.

    Submission is now open, you can do that directly online until the end of April by visiting our website at: www.rwandafilmfestival.net

  • Kigali to Host EAC ‘Jumafest’ in Feb

    An official Logo and theme song have been unveiled for the the EAC Arts and Culture Festival; Jamafest.

    Both symbols of the Festival were officially unveiled in Kigali,on January 25, ahead of the Jamafest opening on 11 February 2013.

    Rwanda will host the event that will run until 17 February 2013.

    The theme song is in Kiswahili–an upbeat track delivered against groovy beats with the central theme of unity among the East African people.

    It celebrates the oneness of the five Partner States, wonderfully capturing the essence of the forthcoming EAC Arts and Culture Festival.

    The logo is the new visual identity of the Festival and like the theme song, emphasizes the unity of the five Partner States with a story told simply yet powerfully through the official EAC colors and one of the region’s enduring symbols of celebration—the drum.

    The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo describes the Jamafest symbols as “purely East African, beautiful artistic creations”.

  • FESPAD Scheduled for February

    Rica Rwigamba, the Director of Tourism and Conservation in the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has announced that the 8th Edition of the Pan-African Festival of Dance (FESPAD) will be held in Rwanda from February 23 to March 2, 2013 with the theme “Spirit of expression.”

    A total of 40 countries were invited to take part in this festival with a delegation of 10 people each.

    To date, five of them have already confirmed their participation
    The specialty of the 8th edition of FESPAD is that it has scheduled a competition to determine the champion of African dance.

    Through their respective traditional music and dances, participating countries will sell their cultural talents.

    “FESPAD is consistent with the strategy of Rwanda to show the world its unique cultural heritage through dance but also to make a platform destination in Kigali international events while promoting African Unity through dance,” said Rwigamba.

    As host country, Rwanda will benefit from FESPAD the economic point of view due to currency that will enter the country.

    This year, RDB focuses its attention on cultural tourism and plans to visit various tourist places by foreign guests.

    FESPAD was started in 1998 by the former Organization of African Unity, now the African Union.

  • Rebellious Village in Macedonia Stages Carnival

    The tiny Macedonian town of Vevcani boasts its own constitution, its own currency and a passport emblazoned with a golden coat of arms.

    They are a tongue-in-cheek expression of the village’s historical defiance of authority — and were born of a symbolic declaration of independence.

    But beneath the mockery lies a real rebellious streak that has coursed through Vevcani for decades and spawned violent protests, diplomatic incidents and run-ins with the law.

    That spirit of rebellion reaches a climax every year during the village’s annual carnival in January, where villagers don costumes that poke fun at the world around them.

    The sharp satire leaves nothing untouched, targeting the national leadership, politics, religion and social issues. Most recently it has taken aim at Macedonia’s crisis-stricken southern neighbor, Greece.

    With its colorful floats and masked revelers, the festival — said to be 14 centuries old and date from pagan times — has grown in popularity over the last decade.

    It attracts thousands of visitors to St. Vasilij Day celebrations on Jan. 13, welcoming in the New Year according to the Julian calendar.

    Agencies

  • EAC Arts & Culture Festival website Launched

    The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo today launched the website for the forthcoming EAC Arts and Culture Festival; Jamafest and welcomed all artists and ordinary citizens to take part in the event.

    The website address is www.jamafest.org.

    The website is a one-stop resource providing information on the Festival, also known as Jamafest.

    The EAC Arts and Culture Festival takes place from 9-16 February this year.

    Hon. Eriyo stated that with the launch of the website, the East African citizens and international community will be updated constantly about the Festival.

    Similarly, information will be made available via the Jamafest Facebook and Twitter pages.

    “Our reach will not be limited to only East Africa, but across the African continent, and the rest of the world”.

    The EAC official noted that organizing successful large social events like JAMAFEST requires support from Partner States, local communities, private sector/companies, organizations, as well as international backing.

    With the rise of social media, keeping all these stakeholders happy, informed and up-to-date is becoming easier.

    Rwanda will host the Festival, the first of its kind, on the theme “Fostering the East African Community integration through the cultural industries”.

    More than five venues across the country will host events and activities that include a carnival, live musical performances, theatre, arts exhibitions, workshops and symposiums among others.

    Preparations are in high gear for the event that is expected to attract hundreds of artists from the region.

    Furthermore a ‘Jamafest Village of Countries’ is expected to be the standout attraction for the eight-day fete.

    The village will provide a platform for the participants from the five Partner States to showcase the best their countries have to offer, hence promoting socio-cultural exchanges among East Africans.

    The Jamafest Village will feature a country day for each one of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda; the five EAC Partner States.

    The event is envisaged to be held biennially with the primary aim to promote socio-cultural integration through arts and culture by providing a platform to showcase culture as a primary driver of EAC integration and sustainable development.

  • Tanzania Admits Failure to Stop Female Circumcision

    The Government of Tanzania has admitted that its powerless in stopping the practice of female circumcision in the country.

    In December 2012, about 5,000 girls aged between 10 and 16 were rounded up for circumcision in Tanzania’s Mara region alone from mid-last month.

    However, a campaign started by the government failed to net the culprits.

    Female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation,is a crime in Tanzania.

    Ummy Mwalimu, the deputy minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, says government’s efforts did not bear fruit because of the complex nature of the rite, which is deeply rooted in culture and traditional beliefs.

    Cracking down on the perpetrators was made even more difficult by a conspiracy between heads of clans and village leaders, who are paid for looking the other way as the traditionalists round up girls for the cut.

    Mwalimu said, “We cannot end this problem only by the force of the law. Our greatest hope is to create awareness. We have been trying to engage traditional leaders who are said to encourage the practice.”

    Tarime Special Police Zone Commander Justus Kamugisha said a couple of people were arrested during police operations but a protracted operation was not possible because circumcision ceremonies are carried out secretly under cover of darkness.

  • Craftsmen Urge Rwandans to buy Local Products

    Craftsmen operating in Gakinjiro want Rwandans to buy local products instead of going in the other countries to look for items that may be found in Rwanda.

    This will not only help them but also leading to the country’s economic progress-said craftsmen.

    They said that Rwandan institutions import Chinese products which they say, are not better that products fabricated in Rwanda.

    Ntabarushya Cassier representing a Local Cooperative called “Menuiserie Joyeux de Gakinjiro” said that Rwandan should value their homemade products than the ones from outside which are not “durable”

  • Art Work Contradicting Rwandan Culture to be Banned

    In line with the protection and promoting Rwandan culture, the Ministry of Sports and Culture” MINISPOC” calls upon media houses to ban unethical works of artists that contradict with the integrity of Rwandan culture through their works.

    The move comes as to curb Rwandan artists who use unethical words and nude pictures within their songs.

    Speaking to IGIHE, Makuza Lauren in charge of Culture promotion in MINISPOC said the Ministry is planning to sensitize Rwandan artists about the impacts of their work to Rwandan culture.

    He added that media should be involved in this initiative to save culture.

    However Makuza noted that:”People have different talents and they differ on how they use them.”

    “But artists should know first who the message is directed to and where to pass it without confronting cultural values” Makuza explained.

  • Exploring Witchcraft in Tanzania

    Around the world a sense of mystery and fear engulfs witchcraft and nowhere is this more evident than in the East African nation of Tanzania.

    Here, faith in this specific form of African tradition can turn deadly.

    People with albinism have been dismembered in western parts of the country because so-called witchdoctors perpetuate a belief that albino body parts bring great wealth.

    From the archives: Scores of albinos in hiding after attacks
    Those suspected of witchcraft are also targeted; an estimated 600 elderly women were killed in 2011 due to the suspicion they were witches, according to the Legal and Human Rights Center in Tanzania.

    In fact, the Pew Forum on Religious and Public life conducted 25,000 face-to-face interviews in 19 African nations and found that among them, Tanzanians hold the strongest belief in witchcraft.

    It says 60% of the Tanzanians interviewed believe that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm, and that many Christians and Muslims incorporate elements of traditional African beliefs into their daily lives.

    Dark arts flourished in Tanzania partly because, compared to its neighbors, it was “less colonized” by European powers, explains Joachim Mwami of Dar Es Salaam University.

    The anthropology professor says for centuries, witchcraft has “served to explain anything inexplicable,” in rural villages like a severely sick child or strange illness.

    Professor Mwami admitted that, “even in my own family, I was advised [as a child] not to visit certain relatives considered to be witches,” even though there was no proof.

    He says without access to education, people are more likely to follow the claims of traditional healers and pass down those beliefs to the next generation.

    Students at Dar Es Salaam University were reluctant to talk about opinions relating to witchcraft. Some explained, even if they don’t personally believe in the practice, their relatives take it seriously.
    Others feel one must believe in the practice for it to have any power over them.

    So even with a university education, some students retain some faith in witchcraft.

    CNN

  • Fela Kuti Museum Inaugurated

    The family of the late musical icon Fela Kuti on October15, inaugurated a museum dedicated to his life at the site of his last house in Lagos as part of events celebrating what would have been his 74th birthday.

    The museum is not yet complete, but his family wanted to use the date — October 15 was Kuti’s birthday — to raise awareness of it. An annual range of events and concerts labeled “Felabration” is being held over the coming days.

    “The museum is not finished, but we had to make the opening today,” Kuti’s musician son Femi said at the inauguration amidst a party atmosphere, with a crowd of supporters gathering at the house where the musician is also buried.

    The launch “symbolises his birthday and his struggle,” he said.

    Kuti’s family has been seeking to promote the afrobeat musician’s legacy more than 15 years after he died aged 58 from an HIV-related illness.

    A recent Broadway musical about his life that drew rave reviews has also raised his stature internationally.

    Kuti’s outsized personality and social activism made him a hero to many while he was still alive, and his funeral in the giant economic capital of Lagos drew massive crowds into the streets.

    The saxophone player was a harsh critic of Nigeria’s corrupt elite, lashing out in songs like “Coffin for Head of State,” “International Thief Thief” and “Zombie,” but with irresistible grooves that combined jazz, traditional music and other sounds.

    His songs repeatedly landed him in trouble with the authorities, including arrests and the burning, allegedly by soldiers, of his compound, which he had christened the Kalakuta Republic and declared independent.

    His original Shrine club where he regularly performed was shut after his death, but his family later opened the New Afrika Shrine at another location. Femi Kuti and his half-brother Seun regularly perform at the club.

    Kuti was also known for marrying 27 women on the same day, most of them his dancers, and had a well-documented love of marijuana.

    One of his wives at Monday’s launch, Olaide, was moved by being back at the house.

    “This house — it’s a lot of memories,” she said. “I spent almost 30 years with Fela. I love what Fela’s children are doing.”