For three days, Kigali became a meeting place for people interested in the Russian language and culture during the Russian Language and Culture Festival, held under the theme Meet Russia.
The festival brought together Rwandans and international residents living in Rwanda for a series of activities designed to introduce participants to different aspects of Russian culture. The programme included Russian language lessons, cultural workshops, photography exhibitions, film screenings, traditional food, experience-sharing sessions and a Russian language competition.
Learning Russian: A Language Connecting People
Language was at the heart of the festival! Participants had the opportunity to learn simple Russian words and expressions and practice speaking with one another. For many participants, it was an introduction to a language that they may not encounter regularly in their daily lives.
Learning a new language can also create opportunities to communicate with people from different backgrounds and to discover another culture from within.The friendly language sessions demonstrated how learning can become an enjoyable social and cultural experience.
Discovering Russian Culture Through Workshops
The festival also included practical cultural workshops. Participants took part in activities; (Russian Izba, Russian Matryoshka) and other cultural creations like games while also discovering elements of Russian traditions and dance. The workshops gave visitors an opportunity to move beyond simply observing culture and instead participate in it.
Through these activities, participants could experience Russian traditions in a more practical and interactive way.
Silver Skates: Discovering Russia Through Cinema
Cinema provided another window into Russian culture.The festival screened Silver Skates, a Russian film that allowed audiences to discover aspects of Russia through storytelling, historical settings, relationships and everyday life.
For audiences in Rwanda, the film offered a different way of exploring the country and its history. Cinema can transport viewers to places they may never have visited, allowing them to experience another society through characters, stories, landscapes and historical moments.
Russia Through Photography
Photography was another major attraction of the festival. The photo exhibition presented images of Russian cities, landscapes, architecture and everyday life. The photographs offered visitors a visual journey through different parts of Russia and highlighted elements of the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
The exhibition also featured historical and cultural subjects, including Christmas decorations and Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev, the renowned Russian scientist associated with the periodic table.
For photography lovers, the exhibition was an opportunity to explore Russia through images while discovering its people, places, architecture and history.
A Taste of Russia in Kigali
Food was also part of the cultural experience. Participants had the opportunity to taste traditional Russian dishes and discover some of the country’s culinary traditions.
Among the foods presented was borscht, a beetroot-based soup widely associated with Eastern Europe. Depending on the recipe and region, it can include ingredients such as potatoes, cabbage and meat.Sharing food created another informal space for participants to discover Russian culture and interact with one another.
Rwandans Sharing Their Russian Experiences
One of the interesting elements of the festival was hearing directly from Rwandans who have studied or worked in Russia. They shared personal experiences about education, life and opportunities in the country, giving younger participants an opportunity to hear about Russia from people who had experienced it themselves.
Pastor Ndayishima Jan Berkmans, who studied in Russia and later returned to Rwanda to invest in education in rural communities, was among those sharing his experience.
He welcomed the festival as an opportunity to meet young Rwandans and share his experiences with them. He also encouraged young people to explore educational and other opportunities available in Russia.
These personal stories added another dimension to the festival, connecting cultural discovery with real-life experiences.
Russian Language Competition and Awards
The festival concluded with a Russian language competition and an awards ceremony. Participants who demonstrated their knowledge of the Russian language were recognized for their achievements.
The closing ceremony was attended by Dr. Alexander Sizov, Representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Rwanda, who joined participants at the conclusion of the three-day programme.
The awards marked the end of a festival that had brought together language learners, culture enthusiasts, students, Russian-speaking communities and other residents of Rwanda.
A Meeting Point Between Rwanda and Russia
The three days of the Russian Language and Culture Festival demonstrated the role that cultural activities can play in bringing people together. From learning Russian words to watching a film, viewing photographs, tasting traditional food, participating in workshops and listening to Rwandans share their experiences, participants discovered Russia from different perspectives.
#MeetRussia provided a space where culture became a bridge between people. For Kigali’s cultural scene, the festival was another example of how language, art, food, photography and cinema can encourage dialogue and create opportunities for people to learn about one another.
The festival was taken place at Kigali Public Library (Kacyiru) and Soma Foundation (Remera)
