Hope Azeda is one of the leading figures in contemporary Rwandan theatre. She is the founder, artistic director and choreographer of Mashirika Creative and Performing Arts, one of the major theatre companies in Rwanda. Under her direction, the group collaboratively created Africa's Hope, which was performed in Kigali at the 10th anniversary commemoration of the genocide, and also at the G8 World Summit in Edinburgh in 2005. The play also toured in the UK in 2006 and 2008 and also featured in the biennial festival in Sweden in 2008.

Ms. Azeda’s work as a writer, performer and teacher has taken her to many theaters and universities around the world, including the Biennial Festival in Stockholm and the Caravan Festival in Copenhagen, the International Festival of the Arts in Sophia and tours of the USA, Canada, Austria, Italy, Germany, South Korea Japan, Italy, Australia, South Africa and Northern Ireland. She has also been an artist-in-residence at the Institute for the Arts and Civic Dialogue in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to her theatre work, she served as a casting director for the films Sometimes in April, Shake Hands with the Devil, Beyond the gates, white light and Africa United. She is currently the President of ARTEJ/ASSITEJ Rwanda (International Association of Theaters for Children and Young People) and Vice President of IRIZA CART (The Rwandan association for cineastes).

E-mail:  hazeda@yahoo.com

website:  www.mashirika.com 

Phone:   250-0877300222

P.O. Box 3470, Kigali, Rwanda