Pangea Day

Pangea Day festival in Kigali inspired by Rwanda’s recovery; Kabera

BY GEORGE KAGAME

Kigali was chosen to be among only seven global cities to host Pangea as recognition for Rwanda’s inspiration to the world for the country’s commitment for a harmonious society.

This was revealed by Eric Kabera a Rwandan veteran movie director while commenting on the highly successful global event to celebrate humanity.

Thousands of Rwandans and foreign nationals thronged Kigali's Jali Club Gardens to celebrate Pangea Day, a global live event which was aimed to enable the attendees: "help people see themselves in others- through the power of film.” Ceremonies were organized beginning at 8pm local time in Cairo, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro were linked to live programs which depicted that human beings wherever are; face the same challenges and themes like love, despair, sorrow, faith, hope and success are universal. In Kigali, the event had live performances my music folklore groups, while renowned musician Jean Paul Samputu told the world a message of hope telling his anger against fellow Rwandans following the brutal events of the 1994 Genocide, which affected him.
In Jordan respected queen Noor spoke her own life experience an example human diversity while making a speech on human diversity. Noor is a Jordanian American who was married who was married to the late king of Jordan!!!
She said her life is an inspiration about the universal nature of human beings to adapt to different challenges.

Many of the short film clips captured by ordinary people in whom the universal themes of love, sorrow, despair, faith and hope were depicted to be shared universally, the films were recorded in diverse areas ranging from Russia, Uganda, Rwanda, and India.
These ranged from children playing in Uganda, pensioners lounging in Australia to two former bitter political enemies that were brought face o face by US CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, herself an inspiration to the themes of Pangea Day. Hollywood superstars in Los Angeles addressed the globally telecast event. Kigali City Council director of Communication Bruno Rangira the choice of Kigali, which along with Cairo in Egypt was the only two venues in Africa was a celebration of the growing Rwandan movie industry.
Enrick Kabera a movie director in Rwanda said: the executive the Pangea executive team were inspired by Rwanda’s recovery following the destruction of 1994 to choose Kigali as only the second city in Africa to stage Pangea activities.

He said; “Rwanda’s recovery has provided the international community a pathway from destruction and provides a strong statement of peace, unity hope and forgiveness.”

Pangea day stems from the story of Egyptian US immigrant Jehane Noujaim who was inspired by the differences of human beings. She recorded a documentary that showed western bias in covering the war in Iraq and has won international recognition for stories.
Pangea Day is her gift to the world after Technology Economic Development TED= a US firm asked her to name a wish that the firm could sponsor.