The East African region will for the first time in history host the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp, bringing together 60 of the top high-school-age boys and girls from across the continent.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on August 11 announced that Petit Stade in Kigali, Rwanda, will play host to the 21st edition of the event from Saturday, August 23 – Tuesday, August 26, marking the first time the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, will be held in East Africa.
Previous African editions were held in Angola, Egypt, Senegal and South Africa.
“Basketball Without Borders Africa continues to provide a platform for top young players from across the continent to continue their development and reach the highest levels of the game,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi in a press release.
“We look forward to bringing this year’s camp to East Africa at a time when there is incredible momentum around the game in the region.”
BWB Africa 2025 will feature 60 male and female players ages 18 and under from across Africa, who will get a rare opportunity to learn directly from current and former Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches.
The campers and coaches, who will be announced prior to the camp, will also take part in life-skills, leadership development and social responsibility programming.
FIBA head of players Unit, Kimberley Gaucher said Basketball Without Borders plays a pivotal role in the region’s basketball development, providing top young talent with access to elite coaching and valuable growth opportunities.
Rwanda, Gaucher noted, was settled on as hosts having established a strong footprint in African basketball over the recent years.
“Hosting this edition in Rwanda is particularly significant,” said Gaucher.
The FIBA head of players unity said Rwanda has established a strong footprint in African basketball over the recent years, “having hosted a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying tournament last year, celebrated four Basketball Africa League Playoffs and Finals from 2021-2024, and also as host for both the boys’ and girls’ FIBA U-16 AfroBasket tournaments and a regional youth camp this year, further underscoring its growing prominence on the continent.”
Since 2001, BWB has reached more than 4,600 participants from 144 countries and territories, with 142 former campers drafted into the NBA and WNBA or signed as free agents.
Fourteen former BWB Africa campers have been drafted into the NBA and WNBA since the first BWB Africa camp in 2003, including 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), 2019 NBA champion Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012) and 2025 No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns; South Sudan; ties to Uganda; BWB Africa 2023).
Seventy-two former BWB Africa campers have been featured on Basketball Africa League rosters over the league’s first five seasons.
Hosting of the BWB Africa camp in Kigali is music to the ears of sports fans in East Africa, especially at this time when the region is hosting the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 competition.
Co-hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have so far produced dazzling performances as they push for a slot in the final on August 30.
