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28 September – 3 October 2026 | Kigali, Rwanda In partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Arts The Future is Written: Human Voices, Intelligent Tools What happens when the voices that carry our stories meet the tools that are changing how stories are created? This September, Kigali becomes a meeting place for writers, publishers, artists, educators, readers, cultural leaders and technology innovators as the Umurage International Book & Art Festival returns for its second edition — six days of conversation, creativity and connection, presented by Arise Education in partnership with Rwanda's Ministry of Youth and Arts. This year's theme, The Future is Written: Human Voices, Intelligent Tools, is an invitation to think about where storytelling, publishing and creativity are going — and, more importantly, who gets to shape that future. A Future Shaped by Our Voices We are living through a remarkable moment. Artificial intelligence is changing the way we write, translate, illustrate, publish and discover books. Digital platforms are opening new ways for stories to travel. Technology is bringing creators and audiences closer together than ever before. But in the middle of all this change, one thing remains at the heart of every meaningful story: the human voice. Our memories. Our languages. Our imagination. Our experiences. Our questions. Our dreams. Umurage 2026 explores what happens when these human voices meet intelligent tools — not to replace creativity, but to expand what is possible. Umurage began in 2025 at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre, organized by Arise Education with the Ministry of Youth and Arts and the Aegis Trust, under the theme "Cultural Renaissance: The Power of Arts, Heritage, and Storytelling in the Creative Industry." The 2026 edition builds on that foundation, growing into a full six-day program that widens its lens to the role of intelligent tools in Africa's creative and publishing future. From Rwanda to Africa and the world Umurage is rooted in Rwanda, but its vision is African and global. This year's festival brings together voices from Rwanda and across Africa — including participants from Nigeria and other African countries — alongside international publishers, cultural institutions, authors, artists and creative professionals. It is a space to discover new stories, exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore opportunities across the African and international creative economy. We believe Africa has stories that deserve to travel — stories in Kinyarwanda and in hundreds of other African languages, shaped by history, culture, migration, resilience, imagination and everyday life. The question is not whether Africa has stories. The question is how we build the systems, markets and tools that allow those stories to reach the world. Questions We're Asking • What is the future of the book? • How can African publishers reach new markets? • How can technology support writers, translators and artists? • What happens to African languages in the age of AI? • How do we protect human creativity while embracing intelligent tools? • How can Rwanda become a stronger home for creative production and exchange? These are not questions for technology companies alone. They are questions for writers, artists, publishers, educators, readers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and all of us who believe that stories matter. Umurage 2026 is ultimately about possibility. It is about giving creators the confidence to experiment. Giving publishers the opportunity to connect. Giving readers new stories to discover. Giving African voices space to be heard. And creating a future where technology serves creativity, rather than creativity losing its place to technology. Because intelligent tools may help us write faster, translate further and reach wider audiences. But the story begins with a human voice. From 28 September to 3 October 2026, join us in Kigali for six days of books, ideas, art, conversations, creativity and connection. The future is written and we are writing it together. Follow Arise Education and Umurage for programme announcements, speakers, registration and partnership opportunities.