A Five-Day Overview of the Story Told On Canvas Festival (STOC Festival), Musanze 2026
Theme: UBUMWE (Unity): When Art Speaks of Memory, Resilience, and Unity!
From April 15 to 19, 2026, the district of Musanze, in Rwanda’s Northern Province, experienced a historic and inspiring moment by hosting the third edition of the STOC Festival, an annual event organized by BruceM Hub, the House of Arts.
In collaboration with the Northern Province of Rwanda and Ibuka Musanze, the festival was dedicated to celebrate World Art Day as well as the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, through the speaking paintings exhibited at Silverback Café in Musanze.
The festival provided an opportunity for attendees to discover the “Story Told On Canvas”, understand its vision, and actively engage with the artworks.
In the presence of the Northern Province Governor, Maurice Mugabowagahunde as the Guest of Honor, as well as other esteemed high-ranking officials from the Government, the Military and the Private Sector, Bruce Mbanzabugabo, Founder of the STOC Festival shared the vision behind the initiative. He also explained the motive behind the theme, UBUMWE (Unity): When Art Speaks of Memory, Resilience, and Unity, was chosen and narrated the stories behind the exhibited portraits.
This was followed by an interactive session where participants reflected on what they had seen and heard, sharing insights and lessons drawn from the exhibited paintings.
During the five days of the festival, activities also took place at the Musanze Youth Centre, with a focus on raising awareness and educating young people about Rwanda’s ancient and current history.
Through his artwork, Bruce Mbanzabugabo engaged the youth of Musanze District, demonstrating how art serves as a powerful tool for education. He showed that art can communicate complex historical realities in a clear and accessible way, beyond the use of words alone.
While inaugurating the activities at the Musanze Youth Centre, the Director of the Centre, Aimable Rwigamba, encouraged young people to learn their history and emphasized on the importance of the knowledge shared through Art, signaling the strength of unity to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
The festival also created a meaningful space for young people in Musanze to ask questions, seek deeper understanding, and engage with the truth about their history, helping to ensure that it is preserved and never distorted.
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