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| Credit: Ubumuntu Arts Festival 2018 (Mizero's father is telling his son to be a messenger of peace) |
Selected
to represent Burundi in Ubumuntu Arts Festival 4th edition,
Umunyinya attended it from July 12-16, 2018 in Kigali. This festival is organized
by Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company. Ubumuntu Arts Festival was
created to help Rwandan communities to unite, and international audiences to
understand the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and draw a lasting lesson on how
to ban any ideology that would reduce humanity to zero. All over the world, art
has established a reputation as an effective channel for addressing social
problems. It has enhanced Rwanda in dealing with the country’s immense
post-Genocide challenges. “My body is my
most precious tool, my soul’s messenger”. Umunyinya performed “Iragi”(
Legacy) a play by Rivardo Niyonizigiye directed by Arthur Ban, interpreted by
Edrine Irimbere, Audace Ndabahawe, Rivardo Niyonizigiye and Arthur Ban which
painted the sense of unity, forgiveness and reconciliation as effective tools
for mending our torn out communities.
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| Credit: Ubumuntu Arts Festival 2018 (Uncle Ndio is teaching Mizero to revenge his family) |
The Festival activities included among
others performances, workshops, panel discussions, and Genocide memorial site
visits. Some of the countries took part in this year’s festival are: Rwanda (the
host), Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, UK, Belgium, Iraq, Egypt, Canada, Poland,
Zimbabwe, Guinée, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
“My
humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Desmond
Tutu
The communities in which we live influence us both
positively and negatively. Often this can impose dominance on us in case our
strength to push the hurdles is not well grounded. Influences will never cease
to exist. But, do they determine us? Do they shape our destiny? Can we accept
to go with the flow of them?
