Ubuntu Love Festival: Queen Diambi among speakers to kick off positivity-focused online event

The festival, founded by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi and philanthropist Mamadou Toure, will stream live today and on July 5

The Ubuntu Love Festival is streaming live on YouTube and other social media platforms. YouTube

The Ubuntu Love Challenge, the online movement by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi and philanthropist Mamadou Toure, is officially spreading positivity.

The campaign, which encourages people to share skills and knowledge to tackle global issues amid the coronavirus pandemic, has kicked off a two-day digital event called Ubuntu Love Festival.

Hosted by Marwan Al Awadhi, also known as DJ Bliss, the online festival features a programme of international speakers and workshops which are focused on the themes of mindfulness, meditation, music, yoga, art and healing.

Described as "a celebration of our humanity", the festival – which launched at 5pm on Saturday, June 20 – aims to bring people together during challenging times.

The festival starts with a special message from its founders, Al Qasimi, founder of publishing company Kalimat Group, and Toure.

The first day also includes five sessions featuring Queen Diambi Kabatusuila Tshiyoyo Muata of Congo, certified yoga coach Tanya Awad, bestselling author Master del Pe, award-winning Chinese designer Yanling Duan and aritsts DJ BK Rogers and Bayan Abuzindah.

The Ubuntu Love Challenge, which launched last month, has garnered the attention of prominent names around the world, including musicians Tyrese, Maxwell and Sons of Yusuf, and regional director of UN Women for West and Central Africa, Oulimata Sarr.

The second day of the Ubuntu Love Festival is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 5. To view the full schedule for the event, click here.

The premise of the ongoing Ubuntu Love Challenge, meanwhile, is simple – participants should identify issues within their communities and find solutions for them. They can be small-scale and community-focused, ranging from delivering groceries to someone in need to volunteering to conduct online classes.

Participants record a video of themselves speaking about the experience, and then share the clip on social media with the hashtag #UbuntuLoveChallenge. They must then urge other people within their community to join.

To view the live stream, click here. It is also streaming on Facebook, Linkedin, Vimeo and Twitter