From 11th to 17th February 2013, a Festival on Art and Culture "Jamafest" took place at Kigali in Rwanda. Burundi got the opportunity to take part in this event. In fact, Burundian artists and authorities were glad and proud of the performance of Burundi in art and culture in EAC member states.
<doc7238|left>A delegation of 71people represented Burundi in that 1st edition of Jumuiya ya Africa Mashariki Utamaduni Festival" Jamafest" held in Rwanda. This delegation was divided into 3 categories: Artists and craftsmen, Traditional dancers and Drummers "Ingoma" and Officials. They were supported by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry in charge of EAC and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Posts and Tourism.
"We had everyday 20 min to go on stage to perform except Thursday we had 1hour. We were cheered by the audience. Actually, every time we left the stage, half of the audience went away. It means that Burundians’ performance was pretty good”, says Francis Cumwami, the Secretary of Cultural and Social Association Abagumyabanga.
He went on stating that Burundi Officials were greatly congratulated thanks to dancers and drummers "Abatimbo". Burundians were also congratulated for their stand where they displayed traditional Burundian food and drinks, freely offered to be tasted to anyone who visited the stand.
Annick Kabatesi a designer of cloths made from the bark of ficus was happy, too." During this Festival, Burundi highly impressed EAC member states by displaying different types of tree clothes. The audience especially children and pupils who heard about it or learned it in class were satisfied to get the opportunity to see them .This Festival was also the occasion to exhibit and discover other culture and works of arts from EAC member states", she points out.
"The government should increase…"
Now Burundian artists and craftsmen thanks the Government, the Ministries and Partners who really supported them to participate in the Festival. They recommend the government to promote Burundian culture in creating a great school of Art and Culture to help children and youth to learn the Burundian tradition, art and culture.
"The Ministry in charge of Art and Culture promised to do its best"
During JAMAFEST, a Conference took place under the Theme : "Strengthening EAC integration through the cultural industries".
The aim is to implement a common policy in EAC in order to develop art, to create cultural exchanges through festivals, to enable artists’ movement in EAC as well as creating and multiplying cultural infrastructures. The issue of pirating others artistic pieces of work have been raised.
"The Ministry in charge of Art and Culture promises that it will do its best to support and promote artists. It will organize many workshops of fundraising to push public and private partners to promote culture and artists because it is one of the ways to contribute in the development of a country." says Leonard Sinzinkayo, Director of Culture in Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
