Ishaka: The Tales of the BAL

Standing at the Wall of Fame in the kb Arena during the tour.

“Tugushimiye kwakira abashyitsi; Rwanda yacu uri ntwali yo kwakira abashyitsi,” chanted a group of approximately 120 youth as we welcomed Joakim Noah to the podium.

Mr. C shouts on the microphone, “1,2,3 Future Stars”, and the youthful group again responds in unison, “Ishaka.” Ishaka is a Kinyarwanda chant word that combines motivational ideologies: courage, uniqueness, thirst, determination...

On the 24th of June, I arrived at Nyabugogo bus park in Kigali at 8:00 am. I had set off at 9:00 pm from Kampala using Jaguar Bus. It was a long night, but thank goodness my sleepy head gave way for a greater part of the journey. The one and a half hour from Katuna/Gatuna to Kigali, I was deeply engrossed in a conversation with one of the top-performing athletes in the Ugandan National Basketball League (NBL) that was also en route to Kigali.

In two hours' time, I was at the Bank of Kigali (bk) Arena. I was very excited about what the week's events could unfold. I applied to be part of the inaugural Sports Business Future Stars Camp by the Entrepreneurial Solution Partners (ESP). The camp was in partnership with Basketball Afrique League (BAL), sponsored by the MasterCard Foundation and the African Sports and Creative Institute (ASCI). The youth in attendance were a selected group of sports entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who were ready to learn from experts in sports. The program was fully stacked with speakers from different sports business arenas. Each speaker uniquely left us with open mindsets as they thoroughly dissected the dynamics of whatever sports business arena they were into.

I had missed day one of the camp. But day two wasn’t a bad start off with panel sessions.

Christopher Williams, “Think innovation.” Christopher Williams has worked with top brands in the sports industry, such as Nike.

Victor Williams, “You can always learn something else in college but apply it in the sports industry.” Victor Williams is a brother to Christopher Williams and is the CEO of BAL.

Charles Smith, “In the future, we will not have women leaders. They will be referred to as leaders.” Charles Smith is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. He took us through a branding session.

As the sun ceased to burn high, we were invited from our last session of the day to witness title sponsorship of the arena as the Arena would no longer be referred to as the Kigali Arena but rather the Bank of Kigali (bk) Arena.

The day was closed off with facilitation about Sports Management by Professor Gerard Akindes.

The ESP Future Stars during the Innovation Summit at the Kigali Convention Centre

Wednesday was a day to be excited about as we had the Innovation Summit at the Kigali Convention Centre. Africa has so many creatives. The space was scented with Afro-centric vibes. It was just so amazing to see the power of sports. Paul Sika, alias the Flying Fish Monger, is a storytelling mastermind that has crafted the use of technology to tell stories. His 10-minute-long ice breaker was worth the experience. The panelists were carefully selected as they matched the week's theme and ideology. It was a panel of Africans for Africans making, it big in various industries away from the traditional cut paths of engineering, medicine, and law, among others. The sessions were hosted by Makeda Mahadeo of Jamaica - Rwanda and Usher Komugisha of Uganda. Each speaker visibly reminisced about the futuristic path that Africa’s creatives have already embarked on. Africa has a vast human resource capacity which we should harness to draw more inspiration from within. What is an event without the graceful Kinyarwanda dance? The drums sounded, the smiles shone bright, and the men leaped so high that you could feel their energy underneath your feet. I wish I were writing a series; I would write a chronological piece on how the day's events rolled out. Nevertheless, we had to head to the bk Arena to watch the 2nd Semi final game between Petro de Luanda (Angola) and Forces Armees et Police FAP (Cameroon).

It would have been unfair for a group of future stars to miss out on meeting one of the most excellent sports writers, storytellers, and commentators that Africa is witnessing. Usher Komugisha blessed us with her presence on Thursday alongside Kornelia Semmelink, the Head of Media Partnerships Global Media Distribution for the NBA. What a long session it was! Takeaways: if you are not passionate about it, just drop it. You are wasting your time.

Kornelia Semmelink (R), Will Mbiakopi (M), and Usher Komugisha taking us through a session

Friday! Thank God it’s Friday. It was graduation day for the ESP Future Stars. It had been a week-long of sessions. We had developed connections. Learned from the best and were ready to venture out without fear or remorse. The BAL president, Amadou Gallo Fall, and other dignitaries graced the occasion. The week was finally over, but what we learned from the sessions will stick with us forever as we continue to grow in sports enterprises. Some of my most significant takeaways were: if you are not sleeping because of something, you are forcing it, and what is the worst thing that can happen to you if you try and fail? So go out and try as many times as possible. After all, you will fail more times than you will succeed!

The ESP program opened a whole new perspective on a number of areas in the sports world. I was pleased to learn about Media Distribution in sports. I can roughly explain what it takes to have me switch on ESPN and watch the NBA finals. I was intrigued by the National Basketball Players Association, which looks at the player’s rights protection and the social responsibility of the NBA athletes. An ideology that every nation with athletes should welcome.

The fun wasn’t over. I was excited to be back in Rwanda after such a long while, but it felt more exciting as this time, a good number of Ugandans had also traveled to watch the BAL. The BAL experience is something I would wish upon any African who believes in Africa and more so one who doesn’t believe in Africa’s potential. It completely changes your perspective about the “Dark Continent.” It’s a story of Africa told through sports. The bk Arena in itself is symbolic and disruptive in the infrastructural sector. I was blessed to have a full room-by-room tour of the bk Arena. I think we should have the Seven Wonders of Africa. That arena is a wonder! The events within that space are a true reflection of the Africanacity we speak of. The event is a blend of traditional Africanism and modern sports. The week’s event left me questioning how best we could tell our stories as Africa! We have so much unspoken of, yet we have given away our will to man our stories.

We visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial site in Gisozi, Kigali, along with a few friends. It was such an emotional time but a great learning point. I had never garnered the courage to visit the site regardless of residing in Kigali for nearly two years. After visiting this site, I was so disappointed in myself for the times I have failed to forgive. There is more to life!

Kwibuka: At the Flame of Remembrance, Urumuri Rutazima, Kigali Genocide Memorial

Finally, “So you traveled all the way from Uganda to come for this program?”

“Wow. You are the girl from Uganda?”

“This is the Ugandan girl that I was told about. Your story is so inspiring.”

Yes, I am the girl that traveled from Kampala to Kigali for 8 hours through the night to be part of the Entrepreneurial Solution Partners Future Stars Camp and watch the BAL games. It was worth it!

Yego, Visit Rwanda.