PEOPLE AND CULTURE- RWANDA PERSPECTIVEPeople and Culture the Rwanda perspective
As a young child, i was often fascinated by the life style and traditions around me Thanks God the level of modernity was abit more conservative in the eighty’s (1980’s) compared to the current fast tracking era of today. However i always keep in touch to understand people and their cultures in all my walks of life for it fulfills my purpose of Good Living in my travel and adventurous life style.
Rwanda if you happen not to know it is a warm hospitable landlocked country bordered by Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and DR Congo in East Africa though often remembered by the mention of the Genocide tragedy But interesting to Note, Rwandans did pick up their pieces and are more focused on their future though lessons can be drawn from the past for a better tomorrow.
Though no sight of kingdom-ship after the revolutions, people still recite past events and their traditional heritages in a manner that’s is so touching that you might assume their lived in their historical events though this is further complimented by the heritage and cultural sites preservation’s in various parts of Rwanda and these are a must visit when you happen to drop by.
- Butare, the Cultural Heartbeat: Its the second city to Kigali and its considered to be the intellectual and cultural pulse of Rwanda. It features the National Museum, which is considered by many to offer East Africa’s finest Ethnographic collection. close by is also Rwanda’s top tourism destination, the Royal Palace of Nyanza.
- Royal Palace at Nyanza: An enormous woven dome, the Royal Palace at Nyanza (Nyabisunu) was once the court of Rwanda’d Mwami (King) who resided there along with his colourful cast of courtiers, his Royal Intore dancers, Soothsayers, Magicians, Worriors, Actors and Musicians. Now the palace is a museum offering stunning displays of Intore dance.
- The Intore Dancers: Traditionally the sons of the Kings noblemen the Intore (Finest) dancers were originally based at his court in Nyanza where they performed for his pleasure. At that time their dances depicted only war but today , clad in leopard skins and Columbus Monkay capes with bells around their ankles, they perform a series of Rhythmic pieces with the most famous one being the “Crane dance”.
Rwanda has a rich tradition of celebrations involving music and dance often backed by an orchestra of drums with up to nine (9) players providing the beat. A set of nine drums typically has a soprano, tenor, alto, two baritones, two base and two double base mix. You wont escape the traditional folk songs in worship houses/ churches either.
Though over two thirds are christians mainly catholics with small evangelical churches becoming popular of late, Rwandans still hold to their traditional beliefs. These centre around “Imana” the supreme being. People often hold informal ceremonies asking for the Imana Blessing.
However During your visit besides the cultures tours, visit the Volcanoes National Park to trek the Gorilla’s, Nyangwe National Park suitable for primate tracking and bird safaris and note this is one of the oldest forest on earth dating back to before the last ice age, Akagera National Park for game viewing and birding safaris and Kigali city the city of life with a lot to offer day or night with a touchy genocide memorial in the city to envision what really happened during the dark ages of Rwanda existence!
