Poets Connect Kigali Debuts at Arise Bookshop

By Elias Hakizimana.

KIGALI, Rwanda – Poetry lovers, publishers, and readers gathered Friday evening at Arise Bookshop for the inaugural Poets Connect Kigali, organized and hosted by Arise Education in partnership with Mvua Press, an imprint of eKitabu.

The event showcased The Stained Gem, a new poetry collection that stirred heartfelt conversations on love, culture, and the place of books in daily life.

Attendees ranged from seasoned writers to casual readers. Vanessa, a teacher, described the collection as “a guide to love” that blended advice with emotion. Catherine Kukunda of eKitabu said the goal was to connect authors, publishers, and readers while promoting African literature in accessible formats.

Arise Bookshop founder Gasana Mutesi called on Rwandans to “make books part of life” by buying, gifting, and cherishing them. Organizers hope Poets Connect Kigali will become a regular gathering that strengthens Rwanda’s growing literary culture.

The gathering drew a diverse audience, from professional writers to casual readers, united by a shared love for books.

Vanessa, a teacher invited by her colleague and friend, described the evening as a deeply personal experience.
“Coming here to Arise Bookshop was amazing for me,” she said. “The book touched me deeply—especially the poems about love. I’m someone who really likes to fall in love, and this book taught me how I can handle love better. Poetry can give advice and stir emotions, which can be very powerful in education.”