Burundian artist Bérénice Irumva, known as Bernice The Bell, will embark on an artistic tour in Europe starting June 15, 2026, featuring multiple engagements across France and Germany. The tour includes participation in a 'sound to image' training in southwest France, a Rotary Distrikt Germany conference, and the International Figas Festival in Blois. Bernice The Bell stated, "Ma tournée en Europe est subdivisée en trois parties mais, il y a des dates qui ne sont pas encore confirmées."
The 'sound to image' training is scheduled from June 15 to June 23, 2026, in the southwest of France. Bernice The Bell noted, "Pour la première partie, j’ai été sélectionnée parmi sept femmes compositrices africaines qui vont suivre une formation du son à l’image." She explained the training's purpose: "où nous allons apprendre comment composer de la musique pour les films, les promouvoir et les rendre leurs droits."
Further activities for Bernice The Bell include attending the Rotary Distrikt Germany conference at Herrnhut Zinzendorf castle in Germany. The International Figas Festival will also feature her from July 15 to July 18, 2026, in Blois, France. Bernice The Bell noted the significance of the training, stating, "Le son et l’image sont pour moi, quelque chose de nouveau au Burundi car, la composition de la musique pour les films au Burundi est quasi inexistante." She added, "C’est aussi une occasion d’avoir une renommée sur la scène internationale étant donné qu’on va travailler avec de grands artistes européens."
Training and Festival Engagements
Activities for Bernice The Bell include a 'sound to image' training in Rochefort, France, and participation in the Figas Festival in Blois, France. Bernice The Bell was also invited as an artist to the Rotary Distrikt Germany 1880 conference, held at Herrnhut Zinzendorf castle.
The artist stated, "My European tour is divided into three parts, but there are dates that are not yet confirmed. For the first part, I was selected among seven African female composers who will follow a 'sound to image' training. This training will take place from June 15 to June 23, 2026, in southwest France, where we will learn how to compose music for films, promote them, and secure their rights."
Bernice The Bell emphasized the novelty of this skill in her home country, stating, "Sound and image are, for me, something new in Burundi because the composition of music for films in Burundi is almost non-existent. Therefore, having the chance to undertake a tour like this constitutes a great asset for Burundian artists and more particularly for me because I think that soon, I will be an expert in the field of film music composition." She added, "It is also an opportunity to gain international recognition given that we will work with great European artists. In addition to ensuring the financial empowerment of artists, it is also a strong moment to strengthen cultural relations between Burundi and the outside world." Bernice The Bell further noted, "We continue to perform to see if we can find other invitations to different artistic events."
Calls for Cultural Support
Bernice The Bell has called upon Burundi's Ministry of Culture to establish a dedicated cultural activities fund, aiming to promote the nation's image internationally. The artist also extended an invitation to large companies, urging them to form partnerships with artists to aid in the promotion of their products. Bernice The Bell noted a significant challenge within Burundi's creative sector, noting that copyright protections are not yet consistently respected.
The artist expressed gratitude to the Institut Français de Paris for its support, which facilitated her participation in the upcoming 'sound to image' training. Bernice The Bell further thanked Rotary Distrikt Germany for extending an invitation to its conference. "My European tour is divided into three parts, but there are dates that are not yet confirmed," Bernice The Bell stated. "For the first part, I was selected among seven African female composers who will follow a 'sound to image' training. This training will take place from June 15 to June 23, 2026, in southwest France, where we will learn how to compose music for films, promote them, and secure their rights."
Bernice The Bell emphasized the broader implications of her tour for Burundian artists. "Sound and image are, for me, something new in Burundi because the composition of music for films in Burundi is almost non-existent," she explained. "Therefore, having the chance to undertake a tour like this constitutes a great asset for Burundian artists and more particularly for me because I think that soon, I will be an expert in the field of film music composition." She added that the tour also presents "an opportunity to gain international recognition given that we will work with great European artists. In addition to ensuring the financial empowerment of artists, it is also a strong moment to strengthen cultural relations between Burundi and the outside world." She concluded, "We continue to perform to see if we can find other invitations to different artistic events."
Artist's Vision and Local Impact
Bernice The Bell granted an interview to the newspaper 'Le Renouveau du Burundi' on Thursday, June 11, 2026, where she discussed her European tour and its potential impact. She stated, "My European tour is divided into three parts, but there are dates that are not yet confirmed. For the first part, I was selected among seven African female composers who will follow a 'sound to image' training. This training will take place from June 15 to June 23, 2026, in southwest France, where we will learn how to compose music for films, promote them, and secure their rights."
The artist also noted her commitment to local talent, having established a recording studio and a rehearsal room to support emerging artists in Burundi. Bernice The Bell explained, "Sound and image are, for me, something new in Burundi because the composition of music for films in Burundi is almost non-existent. Therefore, having the chance to undertake a tour like this constitutes a great asset for Burundian artists and more particularly for me because I think that soon, I will be an expert in the field of film music composition." She added, "It is also an opportunity to gain international recognition given that we will work with great European artists. In addition to ensuring the financial empowerment of artists, it is also a strong moment to strengthen cultural relations between Burundi and the outside world." She concluded, "We continue to perform to see if we can find other invitations to different artistic events."
