Emmanuel Nkuranga is a self taught painter and a mixedâmedia expressionist. He is co-founder and owner of Inema Arts Center in Kigali, Rwanda, and founder of Choose Kigali. Through his work, Nkuranga leads the country’s growing creative industry. After completing a High Diploma in Computer Studies (bachelors equivalent) at the Kigali Institute for Science and Technology in 2009, Nkuranga found a passion for art.
When Nkuranga started his career in art in 2009, Rwandans didn’t consider art a serious economic pursuit. Nkuranga combined his strong business acumen with his artistic talent and took bold risks to ignite the contemporary art movement in Rwanda. These risks showed up not only on the canvas, but in envisioning how the power of art could propel Rwanda into the global creative world. Today, Nkuranga is largely credited for creating Rwanda’s thriving contemporary art industry.
In 2020, Nkuranga opened Ingagi Hospitality Group. Ingagi’s first location is Choose Kigali, a dynamic space combining high concept art and fine dining. Choose Kigali is now the top urban destination in the region for creative dining and wine experiences, including multi course omakase menus, from their Italian chefs and sommelier.
Choose Kigali has become the preeminent closed event space in Kigali. It’s a favorite of the Basketball Africa League and NBA Africa. During the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting, HRH Prince Charles took over Choose Kigali to create Terra Carta House, where His Royal Highness and team hosted events, parties, and side events throughout CHOGM.
Nkuranga supports the development of the next generation of artists through his NGO, Art with a Mission. This philanthropic work cultivates artistic talent in youth, which in turn pays for their school fees. Hundreds of children have worked with Art with a Mission programmes and received financial support for their educations.
Nkuranga has a deep rolodex of clients, and his work has been shown around the world, from Nike Graphic Studio in Portland, OR to the Charlie Dutton Gallery in the UK. He has been an artist in residence and guest lecturer in undergraduate and graduate courses at Michigan State University, University of Virginia, and Scranton University. He was featured painting with H.E. President Paul Kagame and journalist Peter Greenberg in the documentary The Royal Tour: Rwanda, aired on PBS.