A Week in the Horn 28.03.2025
The Second East Africa Art and Culture Festival was held from March 20 to 24, 2025, at the newly inaugurated Addis International Convention Center under the theme “Arts and Culture for Regional Integration”. The festival featured a variety of activities designed to promote regional integration and unity through the rich cultural diversities shared among the East African nations.
Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh presided over the opening ceremony, emphasizing the role of art as a unifying force among countries. Highlighting the importance of shared cultural values and traditions in fostering greater cooperation and integration across borders, the Deputy Prime Minister stated, “Art is not merely entertainment; it serves as a crucial bridge between nations.”
During a press briefing, Ethiopian Culture and Sports State Minister, Nafisa Al-Mahadi underscored the significance of the East Africa Art and Cultural Festival in enhancing regional integration and people-to-people interactions among East African nations through cultural exchanges. Al-Mahadi noted that the festival has successfully achieved its goals of fostering cultural and trade integration among East African nations.
Among the notable participants, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture of Burundi, Ambassador Gervais Abayeho, remarked that the diversity of cultural heritage serves as a unifying factor across East Africa. He pointed to similarities in traditional dances across various nations, stating that “the diversity in our cultural heritage is something we can be proud of as it serves as a bridge linking peoples within the continent.”
Ngabo Braive, Permanent Secretary at Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Culture, emphasized the importance of such festivals in fostering cultural exchange and enhancing regional integration.
At the conclusion of the event, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports, Shewit Shanka, underscored Ethiopia’s successful participation by introducing its ancient and contemporary rich cultural heritage to neighboring countries and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to hosting the festival regularly.
This year’s festival has brought together cultural groups from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya, showcasing the diverse artistic heritage of the region. Featuring a wide range of events, including symposia, cultural exhibitions, circus performances, traditional cuisines, fashion shows, music, films, theater, and book fairs, the festival served as an occasion to foster cooperation and solidarity among participating countries.
Initiated in 2022, the East Africa Art and Culture Festival plays a vital role in celebrating the region’s artistic and cultural richness while promoting regional integration.