The Africa Writers Day Celebration held on November 6 at Intare Arena brought together Rwanda’s literary community for a night dedicated to storytelling, education, and cultural identity. While the event showcased several new publications, the spotlight turned to Dr. Francis Habumugisha and his inspiring new book, Rya Neza, Ubeho Neza — a message promoting purposeful and value-driven living.
This year’s celebration, themed African Voices, African Stories: Writing Our Way to a Shared Future, emphasized the responsibility of writers to shape a united continent through authentic narratives. Officials, including Mme Bagumyà Rose from MINEDUC and Hon. Musoni Protais, PAM-Rwanda Chairman, commended authors for their crucial role in strengthening education and preserving identity.
Performances from young poets and cultural troupes added vibrancy to the event as they showcased Rwanda’s cultural heritage through poems, traditional dance, and storytelling sessions. Participants also engaged in interactive workshops focused on promoting reading culture and introducing writing to children at an early age.
Panel discussions explored the importance of decolonizing African education systems, integrating national values into literature, and developing strategies to make African books more accessible to youth both in schools and communities.
Amid these activities, Dr. Habumugisha’s book captured the audience’s attention with its focus on moral integrity, compassion, and discipline as essential tools for both personal development and national growth. He shared that his motivation was to encourage, especially the youth, to make choices that build strong character and contribute positively to society.
Attendees praised the book for addressing real-life challenges with practical guidance, noting that it aligns strongly with Rwanda’s values and the day’s theme, celebrating African stories that inspire transformation.
Other authors also launched new works, including Dr. Sina Gerard, Braddock Le Sage, and Kabayiza Claudien, marking another significant milestone for Rwanda’s growing literary movement.
