This year’s East Africa arts and culture festival also known as Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni Festival (JAMAFEST) scheduled to be held at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, Uganda from September 7 and 15, 2017, under the theme Culture and creative industries: An Engine for unity and Employment Creation.
Attracting participants from the six East African Nations including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Uganda, the festival host, Pius Bigirimana, the gender ministry’s permanent secretary, says the Pearl of Africa has put everything in order to have a remarkable the upcoming 3rd edition.
“There is no doubt our people will benefit from the festivities showcasing our art and culture,” added Bigirimana.
During the seven-day event, East Africans will showcase their troupers in a carnival, live musical performances, theatre/comedy, art and craft exhibitions, literary works, film shows, poetry, storytelling, acrobatics, workshop/symposium, culinary art, fashion show and children’s theatre. A market-place for selling and buying of cultural products and cultural business networking will also be arranged. Uganda will be represented by artists from different fields like plastic arts (painting, ceramics and crafts), fashion and dance among others.
Naumo Juliana, a commissioner of culture and family affairs at the gender ministry also reveals that besides the Kololo venue where the main stage for cultural performances, the exhibition and market place will be located. The official opening and closing ceremonies will also be held at the same venue. The subsidiary venues include Uganda National Cultural centre where specialized shows including film festival, comedy and drama will be conducted. Hotel Africana will host the Symposium, fashion show and the closing Dinner gala.
Two successful editions of Jamafest have been held so far in Kenya and Rwanda.
The Ugandan government is set to spend Shs.1.1 billion in this year’s festival.
