Red Rocks Cultural Festival returns to Musanze district, Rwanda, celebrating 10 years of cultural heritage, community conservation and experiencing empowerment in Rwanda

Red Rocks Cultural Center will be hosting the 11^th Annual Cultural Festival from 25 August to 1 September 2023, coinciding with the 19th Kwita Izina Baby Gorilla Naming Ceremony held on 1 September 2023. The event will take place at its premises in Nyakinama Village, Musanze district, Rwanda with additional celebrations in nearby Mukungwa town and Kinigi, Virunga Mountain.

Entry is free with accommodation and food available at Red Rocks at cost. This year’s festival will feature exhibitions of traditional cultural music and dance alongside a variety of artwork produced by local women and youth cooperatives. There will also be community workshops for attendees to participate in, including banana beer making, basket weaving, painting, cooking, sports and conservational debate. Entertainment will continue into the evenings with Red Rocks Twataramye (cultural music using all types of cultural instruments, theatre and poetry).

In addition to cultural activities and sustainable ecotourism, the festival aims to promote conservation. It will therefore take time out to visit Mukungwa riverside to plant trees for conservation of environment and natural resources.

In its final day, the festival will take to the slopes of Virunga Mountain for the Kwita Izina, gorilla naming ceremony.