President Paul Kagame delivered a powerful call to action for African self-belief and progress during the Opening Show of the Giants of Africa Festival 2025 held at BK Arena in Kigali 27 July,2025, declaring: “Africa needs to believe in the giant that Africa is. Giants grow, they develop, they stand tall and they believe in themselves.” [Kigali, Rwanda 27 July, 2025] Giants of Africa festival opening ceremony back again in Kigali, held at Bk Arena and bring together African youth from 20 different African countries to celebrate culture, talents and development among Africans. The week-long fes
President Paul Kagame delivered a powerful call to action for African self-belief and progress during the Opening Show of the Giants of Africa Festival 2025 held at BK Arena in Kigali 27 July,2025, declaring: “Africa needs to believe in the giant that Africa is. Giants grow, they develop, they stand tall and they believe in themselves.”
[Kigali, Rwanda 27 July, 2025] Giants of Africa festival opening ceremony back again in Kigali, held at Bk Arena and bring together African youth from 20 different African countries to celebrate culture, talents and development among Africans.
The week-long festival, now in its second year being hosted in Rwanda, brought together over 320 youth from 20 different African countries and 2,000 young Rwandans, for a transformative celebration of sport, culture, leadership, and personal growth.
Also read: Giants of Africa Festival 2025: A Celebration of Youth, Culture, and Opportunity in Kigali
In his keynote speech, President Kagame emphasized the urgency for Africa to no longer lag behind, but instead to ignite its full potential. “Africa should not, and cannot, remain lagging behind the rest of the world. This festival reminds us that the few gathered here, we can ignite the potential of millions across Africa showcasing their worth and continue to make our continent proud,” he told the energized crowd at BK Arena.
The Giants of Africa Festival was founded by Masai Ujiri, former President of the Toronto Raptors and a passionate advocate for youth empowerment in Africa. During the International Youth Forum segment of the festival, Ujiri praised Rwanda and its leadership for welcoming the event once again. "I have stood in Rwanda, danced, and moved everywhere in Africa. I will always be a son of Africa, and to you all: think Africa," he said, inspiring applause from the thousands in attendance.
He also acknowledged the remarkable performance of young Rwandan girls at the forum, stating, “Those young girls who performed here today, truly extraordinary. You inspire us, and I know my 11 year old daughter will look up to you.” He extended heartfelt gratitude to President Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, and the Imbuto Foundation for their continued support of youth-focused initiatives like Giants of Africa.
Highlighting the celebration’s spirit, Rwandan artists including Chris Eazy, Kevin Kade, Sherrie Silver foundation and others energized the BK Arena stage with a live performance, igniting excitement among the youthful audience. The festival featured leadership workshops, basketball training, cultural showcases, and mentorship programs throughout the week.
The Giants of Africa organization, continues to expand its mission of using basketball as a tool to educate and empower African youth, with a vision of helping them achieve their dreams both on and off the court.
This year’s Kigali edition of the festival reaffirmed Rwanda’s position as a hub for youth empowerment, talent development, and pan-African collaboration.
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