Jalada Mobile Literary and Arts festival is a cross between a traditional festival and a literary bus tour.
From the 3rd - 31st March 2017 Jalada Mobile Literary and Arts festival celebrated cultural diversity, explored the place of languages and translations in the 21st century, and continued to develop linkages and cross-cultural interchange between Africa and the world.
The festival covered 5 countries and 12 towns: Kenya (Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Mombasa), Uganda (Kamapala & Kabale), DRC (Goma), Rwanda (Kigali) and Tanzania (Mwanza, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar).
There were panel discussions, performances, master classes, workshops, exhibitions, and film screenings, as well as novel techniques in digital mapping and mobile phone mini-documentaries to participate in across these 12 towns.
Follow the #JaladaFestival and #JaladaAfrica on Twitter and Instagram to catch a glimpse of the Festival.
The British Council awarded Jalada the new Art new Audiences grant
The Rwanda leg of the festival that took place from the 17th - 19th March 2017 featured multi-lingual performances, panel discussions, performances, and a poetry workshop.
This project was executed in collaboration with Jalada Africa Trust (Kenya), Huza Press (Rwanda), Africa Writes (Royal African Society, UK), and a Rwandan art house.
Poetry Workshop
Huza Press, in collaboration, with Jalada Africa and Africa Writes (UK) hosted a 2-days Poetry Workshop and worked with 60 young Burundian poets below the age of 25.
The workshop explored the dreams and aspirations of young Burundian refugees in Kigali. Available in October 2017 in both French and English, the anthology will capture the memories, visions, and imaginations of young Burundian refugees living in Rwanda.
Jalada at Africa Writes 2017
While at Africa Writes in July 2017, Jalada showcased their new documentary, hosted a roundtable conversation about their experiences working on the Jalada Mobile Festival and launched their next collaborative series, Jalada 05/Transition 123. Watch their BBC interview here
Are you interested in collaborating across East Africa?
The East Africa Arts programme offers grants for East African artists and cultural practitioners to travel and participate in cultural events in East Africa.