The King of Rwanda to preside at The Drum’s New Year’s Honours Royal Breakfast
His Majesty The King of Rwanda is to attend an event designed to recognise those listed in The Drum New Year’s Honours list.
The Drum co-founder Gordon Young has invited the King to take part, after hearing that he has the power to bestow an award called The Royal Order of The Drum (of Rwanda).
HRH Prince Emmanuel Bushayija, currently lives in exile in Manchester, was named King Yuhi VI of Rwanda on 9 January last year, following the death of King Kigeli V, his uncle, who latterly resided in Washington DC.
His Majesty told The Drum: “I was delighted to hear from you, and would like to say that I very much support the ethos of your awards; and their aim to recognise those who have helped prove that marketing can change the world.
“I also note, a lot of the issues that your readers identify with - such as the creation of new forests - are also very close to my own heart. I think that The Drum awards are also aligned to my belief that the drum is far more than a mere musical instrument. I too see the drum as a powerful symbol of communication and authority; which is why this instrument holds such special place in the history of my country and thus gives its name to our order of merit, ‘The Royal Order of The Drum’.”
The Rwandan royal family was forcibly exiled in 1961. HRH Prince Emmanuel grew up in Uganda and subsequently, Kenya and worked for Pepsi and a tourist board. The Prince moved back to Rwanda in 1994, but then relocated to the UK in 2000, where he currently lives outside Manchester.
The event, which will be held on 30 January, will also feature some of the New Year Honorees such as Ali Hanan, Founder and CEO, Creative Equals, Adrian Walcott, managing director of Brands with Values and Laura Jordan Bambach, co-founder of Mr President who will also discuss how marketing can change the world.
Said Diane Young, managing director of The Drum (who appeared as The Drum Queen on the cover of the New Year’s Honours magazine): “Although I was delighted to play the royal role, it is great that we have a real King to preside at this inaugural Royal Breakfast. Who could be better to officiate than a representative of a 1,000 year old Royal Dynasty, that has the symbol of the drum at the heart of its iconography; and has an historic award called The Royal Order of The Drum?’
To attend the event, register here.