Rwanda celebrate its National Day at Expo 2020 in Dubai
Rwandans celebrated the country’s heroes, far away from the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ in the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020, with a visit by Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente, who commended the country’s remarkable development and looked to innovation and collaboration to drive a post-COVID global recovery. His Excellency the Rt Hon Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda was welcomed by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Expo 2020 Dubai and Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Office of the Commissioner General, Expo 2020 Dubai.
HE Ngirente said: “Supported by unique home-grown initiatives and strong values of self-reliance, dignity and hard work, Rwanda has achieved remarkable development gains [and] has emerged as one of Africa’s fastest growing economies for the last two decades, until before COVID-19 pandemic. “One of the lessons we have learned from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the importance of collaboration, innovation and cooperation.
We believe that these are important tools to help nations fight against the spread of COVID-19 and its negative impact on the recovery process globally. It is in this regard that we welcome you to visit our pavilion and explore further opportunities for investments in technology and innovation, financial services, education, health, renewable energy as well as many other sectors in Rwanda.”
HE Sheikh Nahayan said: “Through its participation at Expo 2020 Dubai, Rwanda promotes its knowledge-based economy, invites visitors to explore the country’s tourism hubs and centres for business and trade, and sheds light on the remarkable pace at which it has grown through leadership and innovation.
“The UAE believes in the potential of Rwanda and its people, and through Expo 2020, we look forward to further strengthening our relations and expanding the horizon of our cooperation for the mutual benefit of our people.”
The impressive, ambitious and unprecedented Dubai Expo has met all expectations and surmounted so many challenges from its inception, right on through to the historic launch of the event back in October 2021. On Sunday, January 16th, 2022 — the Expo celebrated 10 million visits to date, which in and of itself is an extraordinary feat considering the global (COVID-19) situation. Health and Safety has always been top priority for Expo organizers but so has quality, lasting impact and sharing uncommon stories from some of the world’s most resilient nations and in that vein, Rwanda stands tall.
Attractions at the Rwanda pavilion include immersive exhibits on Rwandan history, a virtual-reality installation showcasing the nation’s technological advancements and a café in which to reflect on the experience. Rwanda’s Pavilion showcases the ‘shining star’ that has turned itself into a tech-centric hub. Highlights include a journey to the King’s Palace in pre-colonial times, a virtual gorilla trekking experience — the country is home to some of the world’s last mountain gorillas — and some delicious local coffee at Café Rwanda.
The Rwanda National Day celebrations at Al Wasl concluded with a cultural performance by the Rwanda National Ballet, also known as Urukerereza
National Ballet, a troupe that features traditional dancers and musicians. The group performed a traditional women’s dance and a warrior dance, supported by a group of drummers.
The Rwanda Pavilion takes visitors through the nation’s full, unvarnished story, from colonial times to the 1994 genocide to the present day, in which the process of reconciliation has turned the country into a beacon of hope.
The country’s celebrations at Dubai Expo coincided with Rwanda’s Heroes Day, which is an annual holiday celebrated in Rwanda every February 1st. Heroes Day pays tribute to people who exemplified and defended the highest values of patriotism and sacrifice for the well-being the country and its citizens. This holiday is not just for remembrance but also for inspiration towards active participation in the present and future of Rwanda. Sessions, where speakers talk about the Rwandan heroes and how the youth could emulate them, are the main event of the day across the country.
Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 invites visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.
Additional Writing by Marlon Weir
