120 years of innovation and inspiration: Rwandan artist wins top prize in competition hosted by the FIA and Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Arts

As part of the celebrations for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) 120th anniversary year, and in partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Arts, Rwandan artists were invited to submit works inspired by this momentous occasion with the chance to win a cash prize and attendance at the glittering FIA Awards hosted this year in Kigali.

Following a significant number of entries from artists studying on courses verified by the Rwanda TVET Board, Rwanda Polytechnic, and University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology, a winner, and second and third runners up, were selected by the esteemed judging panel of FIA General Manager Alberto Villarreal, curator and lawyer serving the Cultural Outreach of African Art Sophie Kabano, and Epaphrodite ‘Epa’ Binamungu, General Manager of Inganzo Arts Centre.

Unveiled during the FIA General Assemblies week in Kigali, the winning artwork submitted by Ishimwe Gad, a Graphic Design and Animation student at Kigali College, will become a part of the FIA’s permanent collection housed in the iconic headquarters in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France.

FIA General Manager, and competition judge, Alberto Villarreal said: “I was delighted with the many creative submissions we received, and the choice was not an easy one to make!

“To see how the FIA’s 120-year history was interpreted was an inspiration and my congratulations to our winners.”

Submissions were judged on the relevance to the theme of FIA: 120 years of legends, the originality of the creation, the aesthetic qualities of the piece, and the integration of Rwandan elements.

The winning artwork from Ishimwe, titled ‘Echoes of Engines and Drums’, celebrates the history of the FIA and the soul of Rwanda. It tells a powerful story of history in motion, where the roar of the engines meets the steady rhythm of traditional drums. Together, they sing of progress and tradition, of innovation and identity. It is more than a celebration of cars, it is a celebration of people, culture, and progress.

First Prize: Ishimwe Gad, ‘Echoes of Engines and Drums’

Second Prize: Jean d’Amour Imanishimwe, ‘Wheel in Living World’

Third Prize: Arielle Keza, ‘Rwanda: Racing Towards Transformation’