Bayimba Festival Returns with Skills, Mentorship and Market Opportunities for Women

What the report says

Nile Post reports that the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts is set to return for its 18th edition from August 28 to 30 at Lunkulu Island in Buikwe District, with a programme centred on young women working in the creative economy. Organisers are expected to stage three days of music, dance, theatre, visual art and cultural exchange, featuring more than 20 artists from Uganda and abroad.

According to the report, this year’s festival is being delivered under the CREATE – Enhancing Skills and Financial Inclusion for Young Women in the Creative Economy programme. The initiative is intended to help participants gain practical skills, mentorship and market access. Nile Post says young women in the programme will receive career support from established industry professionals and will also be linked with TikTok creators, digital influencers and other content creators for training in audience development, digital storytelling and turning artistic work into income-generating activity.

The article says the festival will also seek to connect emerging creatives with promoters, venue operators, booking agents, cultural institutions and buyers, potentially extending its impact beyond the event itself. Bayimba Cultural Foundation Artistic Director Faisal Kiwewa told Nile Post that the festival gives young women a platform to present their work alongside established artists and meet people who can support their careers.

Festival activities are expected to include live performances, exhibitions, theatre, film screenings, cultural tourism experiences and symposiums, along with an inclusive dance programme titled Every BODY Counts. Nile Post also reports that wellness, sports and mental health sessions will be part of the event, and that CREATE showcases, trainings and market-linkage activities will be free of charge.