ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi nationwide talent search competition was held for the first time this year with the aim of developing creative talents. It is a project organized by the Ministry of Sports and Culture, the Ministry for Youth and implemented by Imbuto Foundation.
The competition started in August 2018 looking for talented youths around the country’s four provinces and the City of Kigali and it saw 2400 young men and women participating with 587 were selected at the Preselection.
70 were selected for the final and trained as they were tipped on how they can improve their projects through their talents.
This year’s Edition ended with a flourish on December 15 with all the finalists given occasion to showcase their talents.
The panel of judges was made of experienced and well-known people in the creative industry including Jacques Muligande [Mighty Popo], Jones Kennedy Mazimpaka, Masamba Intore, and Pascal Busheja.
Talented youths competed in six categories including art, songs and dances, theatre and comedy, photography, fashion and literature.
Those who competed in the theatre category started playing the theatre entitled “Ubuzima si Ubuzima” [Life is not Life] showing consequences of poor family planning.
Most of the messages in plays showcased were about problems facing the Rwandan society mostly unplanned pregnancies.
Competitors in photography and cinematography presented their artworks explaining the messages behind them.
The category of music and dances also had many competitors with amazing talents.
Besides showing their different talents, finalists in the same category sat together and studied profitable projects that can also help create jobs for the youths. Three groups were to be awarded for the best projects.
Maximillien Muhawenimana emerged as the winner in the Plastic Arts Category with Jean Pierre Shyaka coming up as the winner in the music category while Jacqueline Mukamurigo won in the fashion category.
In theatre, Annuarite Uwumukiza was the winner while Jean Chretien Munezero won in the cinematography & Photography category with Carine Maniraguha winning in the literature category.
Each of the winners was handed a cheque of Rwf1,000,000 to help him/her nurture their talent.
In projects, the best project that won was of the Fashion Category who named it “Rwanda Fashion Art Centre’’. It will teach tailoring among youth and start a small cloth making factory in a bid to increase products Made-In-Rwanda.
The second is of the cinematography which is called ‘Reba Visual Limited’ which will deal with trade in the industry.
The third Best Project was from the literature category who pitched a project to start writing books to be used in the curriculum for nursery education.
Each group was awarded a Rwf10 million to help them start the project.
The Minister of Sports and Culture, Espérance Nyirasafari assured the winners and those who were not awarded of the support they would always have in nurturing talents.
“Some say they don’t have where to operate from. We are ready to offer places for developing businesses get able to showcase their activities with Ministries and stakeholders we worked together,” Minister Nyirasafari said.
The First Lady and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation, Jeannette Kagame thanked all who participated in the project and assured them of her help, reminding them that their talents will get them decent lives if they use them well & professionally.
“It is true you have special talents which we want to expand and play a remarkable role in your individual development and that of the country in general. I assure you will not lack motivators, those who will listen to you, and support you but it requires you also to work hard and cherish your talent. You are the ones who will make us love your profession more,” she said.
ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi will be held on a yearly basis and it is expected to raise the number of jobs created in line with the government’s strategy to see 10,000 jobs created in the creative industry every year.
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