Three years ago, I set out on a journey across all 30 districts of Rwanda. That memorable adventure eventually gave birth to a book titled 30 Districts Expedition, a publication that now sits proudly on the shelves of the Afrika Nzuri Library. From this point forward, the book will also become part of the Turning Pages program, continuing its journey through readers and conversations.
Interestingly, I have found myself returning to those same districts once again this year, but in a completely different way. This time, I am moving slowly. Instead of rushing from one destination to another, I am spending more time in each district, indulging in more activities, engaging in deeper conversations, and paying closer attention to everyday life around me.
These slower visits are revealing things I somehow missed before. In the Land of a Thousand Hills, every hill seems to carry its own story. Every road leads to unexpected encounters. Every district unfolds differently when given enough time. What began as simple revisits has naturally evolved into a growing collection of district-focused booklets highlighting my experiences in each place. I never originally planned to write all these books, but the journey appears to be shaping itself along the way. As the Turning Pages program gains momentum, the library powering it continues to grow alongside it.
Today, I find myself in Gasabo District, often regarded as Rwanda’s birthplace. This is also where the 30 Districts Expedition was officially launched during the summer of 2023. In many ways, returning here feels symbolic.
After all, Gasabo is home.
Every tour I have undertaken over the past decade has started and ended here. While I have spent years riding through Rwanda’s hills, towns, and remote corners, I have always returned to this headquarters of Afrika Nzuri. Quietly, steadily, this is where the library behind all these stories was built.
Earlier today, I spent hours at home working on another booklet titled Nyamagabe: Through the Eyes of a Domestic Tourist. Later in the evening, I stepped outside and took a walk to BK Arena.
There, I joined fellow basketball lovers to cheer on RSSB Tigers, Rwanda’s representatives in BAL Season 6. The arena buzzed with the familiar energy of Kigali, lively and contagious. True to form, the Tigers didn’t disappoint.
Moments like these always remind me why returning to Gasabo feels special.
This is not only the base of Afrika Nzuri, but also what has quietly become the undisputed capital of African basketball.