NBA Champion Ujiri Launches Zaria Court Kigali In Landmark Event

Zaria Court Kigali officially opened its doors last night with a grand launch event, marking a transformative milestone in African urban development.

The $26 million mixed-use complex is the debut project of Zaria Group Africa’s premier developer of sports, entertainment, and cultural infrastructure co-founded by NBA champion Masai Ujiri in partnership with Helios Sports and Entertainment Group.

The high-profile opening ceremony drew hundreds of dignitaries, cultural icons, international guests, and youth advocates to celebrate what is poised to become the continent’s leading destination for sport, culture, and community engagement.

Strategically located next to Kigali’s iconic BK Arena and Amahoro Stadium, the event featured keynote remarks from key stakeholders and was attended by notable figures including Aliko Dangote, Chiney Ogwumike, Amadou Gallo Fall, Robin Roberts, Michael Blackson, Fred Swaniker, and Clare Akamanzi.

Today is more than the unveiling of a building it’s the start of a transformation, Ujiri stated. Zaria Court embodies our vision of African excellence, a space where young people can see endless possibilities, and where culture and community come alive.

This is our future bold, authentic, and unapologetically African. We’re not just creating spaces we’re laying the groundwork for a cultural renaissance. Courts foster communities, venues generate value, and ecosystems build economies.

Zaria Court Kigali features a boutique 80-room hotel, a 2,000-seat event venue, a podcast studio, a creative co-working hub, public basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a curated mix of restaurants, a sports bar, retail outlets, and public spaces including a children’s playground.

The development harnesses Rwanda’s reputation as a continental leader in innovation and governance, while setting a precedent for similar projects across Africa’s major cities. The project is expected to create over 500 quality jobs, with a strong emphasis on empowering women and youth. This includes retail incubation opportunities tailored for women-owned small and medium enterprises.

Zaria Court and its surrounding ecosystem mark just the beginning,” Ujiri added. Its impact reaches far beyond Rwanda, offering a model for regional and continental growth. Africa’s talent is limitless, and initiatives like this help unlock that potential. Sport in Africa is a unifier, it brings people together across backgrounds and borders. That same energy can drive development across many other sectors.

The launch of Zaria Court Kigali signals growing institutional confidence in Africa’s sports and entertainment industries, offering a powerful symbol of what’s possible when infrastructure, innovation, and vision come together to elevate the continent.