Fatshimetrie, September 21, 2024 (ACP).- The third edition of the Amani festival, an artistic event bringing together gospel talents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, was solemnly inaugurated this Saturday at the amphitheater of the Sant ‘Egidio community in Bugabo, in the city of Bukavu, in the east of the DRC.
Under the theme of peace and social cohesion, this festival is of particular importance in this Great Lakes region, marked by tumultuous episodes in recent history. Giresse Musafiri, coordinator of Umoja Vision, the organization behind this event, stressed the importance of the messages of peace conveyed through this initiative. He also expressed his satisfaction with the welcome given to Rwandan and Burundian neighbors, thus promoting cultural exchanges and greater understanding between the peoples of the region.
Among the new features of this edition, we will note the holding of song competitions for peace, as well as the prospect of creating 100 jobs for the winning gospel group, after a rigorous selection. These initiatives aim to encourage the emergence of new talents and to promote gospel music as a vector of positive and constructive messages.
The organizing committee of the Amani festival estimates that nearly 8,000 people should attend this event, which benefits from the technical and financial support of Swiss cooperation, Enabel and the French Institute. These partnerships illustrate the importance of international solidarity for the development of cultural and artistic projects with a regional scope.
The previous edition of the festival had already met with great success, bringing together 3,000 people and offering a stage to gospel singers of different denominations, including Catholics, Protestants, New Apostolics and Kimbanguists.
The current edition of the Amani festival therefore promises to be promising, offering a space for sharing, artistic expression and celebration of peace and cultural diversity in the Great Lakes region. Let us hope that this event will contribute to strengthening ties between communities and promoting values of tolerance and solidarity, essential for building a more harmonious future.
ACP/ Museme/Sef