Uganda is hosting the weeklong Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni festival (JAMAFEST) bringing together over 250 participants from the six East African Community (EAC) states.
Participants including different artistes will hold exhibitions from today to September 14 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the National Theatre and Hotel Africana, among other venues.
This year’s JAMAFEST will be held under the theme ‘Culture and Creative Industries: the engine for unity and employment creation’, and will feature exhibitions, demonstrations of crafts and arts, processes of production and open markets. There will also be local games such as Ekigwo (wrestling), Ludo (board game) and Cheza (Okwepena) also known as dodge-ball.
“This edition of JAMAFEST is aimed producing the Kampala declaration on culture and creative industries. It will entail a preliminary presentation and keynote speakers such as Professor Mahmoud Mamdani from Columbia University, Gender, Labour and Social Development Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana said at a press conference held at the Uganda Media Centre yesterday.
According to Bigirimana, this year’s theme comes at a time when all East African countries are facing a similar challenge of unemployment, manifested mostly among youth.
At the closure on Sept 14, outstanding participants will be awarded.
