By Napoleon Mugenzi | Kigali, Rwanda – 27 July 2025
Kigali’s Kicukiro District was a site of purposeful activity on Saturday as more than 600 participants from the Giants of Africa Festival 2025 joined residents for Rwanda’s monthly Umuganda Day. At Nyarurama Cell, festival delegates worked side by side with nearly 3,000 local community members to dig trenches and clear drainage canals along a key road.
The gathering, organised in partnership with the Imbuto Foundation and the Ministry of Youth and Arts (Rwanda), brought together civic tradition and youth empowerment in action—demonstrating how local practices and continental initiatives can align to strengthen community leadership and collective responsibility.
“Umuganda is a perfect example of how communities come together to achieve a greater purpose,” said Masai Ujiri, Co-Founder of Giants of Africa and President of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. “The Giants of Africa Festival is built around a similar goal—uniting communities to ignite leaders and enact change across the continent. We are always honoured to take part in this incredible tradition for the people of Rwanda.”
Umuganda, meaning “coming together for a common purpose” in Kinyarwanda, is a monthly civic initiative that has become central to Rwanda’s post-Genocide against the Tutsi recovery and nation-building. Citizens across the country put aside their usual work on the last Saturday of every month to contribute to public works such as road repairs, cleaning, tree planting, and school maintenance. In Kigali, the practice has contributed to the city’s reputation for cleanliness and social cohesion.
This year’s Giants of Africa Festival provided a unique platform to introduce international participants and high-profile guests to the Rwandan approach to community development. Among those present were Robin Roberts, co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America, Ghanaian comedian and actor Michael Blackson, and two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike. All took part in the physical work alongside volunteers and residents.
Following the morning’s activities, participants gathered for remarks from community and festival leaders. Speakers included Elodie Shami, Director General of the Imbuto Foundation; Samuel Dusengiyumva, Mayor of Kigali; Masai Ujiri, and the Honourable Nelly Mukazayire, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports.
The Giants of Africa Festival, now a flagship initiative across the continent, combines basketball training, leadership development, cultural exchange, and civic engagement. Founded in 2003 by Masai Ujiri, the organisation draws on sport as a powerful tool for youth empowerment. Ujiri’s journey—from Nigerian athlete to NBA executive and 2013 NBA Executive of the Year—has inspired thousands across Africa to pursue excellence both on and off the court.
The event’s local partner, the Imbuto Foundation, traces its roots to the early 2000s as a response to the impact of HIV/AIDS on families affected by the Genocide against the Tutsi. Today, it delivers a range of programmes in education, health, youth mentorship, and economic empowerment. Its name, which means “seed” in Kinyarwanda, reflects a belief in nurturing potential from the ground up.
As Africa continues to seek homegrown models for sustainable development, the collaboration between Giants of Africa, the Imbuto Foundation, and Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Arts stands as a timely example of how purpose-led partnerships can foster lasting impact.
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For more information on the Giants of Africa Festival and youth leadership programmes, visit giantsofafrica.org
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