Culture

 

The culture of Rwanda is varied. Unlike many countries in Africa, Rwanda has been a unified state since pre-colonial times with only one ethnic group, the Banyarwanda, and a shared language and cultural heritage. Music and dance are an integral part of Rwandan ceremonies, festivals, social gatherings, and storytelling. The most famous traditional dance is Intore, a highly choreographed routine consisting of three components – the ballet, performed by women; the dance of heroes, performed by men, and the drums/ingoma. Traditionally, music is transmitted orally with styles varying between the social groups.

The traditional clothing style is called ‘Mushanana’consists of a floor-length skirt with a sash draped over one shoulder, worn over a tank top or bustier. A traditional hairstyle consists of a bun decorated with beads and tied in place by two ribbons that pass across the forehead and over the bun, crossing above the ear. A comb is placed above one ear beneath the crossing point of the ribbons. This costume is often worn by female dancers in Intore dance troupes. It is no longer common daily wear but may be worn at weddings, church services and other formal events. A beaded necklace may be worn with this outfit, particularly during weddings or by the musicians during traditional dance performances. Male dancers may wear a wrapped skirt without a shirt; they wear beaded straps that cross over the chest.

 

Cuisine and Drinks

 

Traditional beer/Urwagwa is drunk from agacuma/small container with straw or akabindi/a bigger container. They are used during rituals and ceremonies.

Rwandan cuisine is based on local staple foods produced by the traditional subsistence agriculture. Rwandan staples include bananas, plantains (known as ibitoke), pulses, sweet potatoes, beans, and cassava (manioc). For those who live near lakes and have access to fish, tilapia is popular. The potato, is also very popular. Ugali (or bugali) or Fufu in West Africa, is a paste made from cassava or maize and water, to form a porridge-like consistency that is eaten throughout East Africa. Isombe is made from mashed cassava leaves and served with dried fish. Brochette is the most popular food when eating out in the evening, usually made from beef, goat, but sometimes tripe, pork or fish. Brochette is usually served with grilled bananas. Milk, particularly in a fermented form called ikivuguto, is a common drink throughout the country. Other drinks include a traditional beer called urwagwa, made from sorghum or bananas, which features in traditional rituals and ceremonies. Commercial beers brewed in Rwanda include Primus, Mützig, and Amstel.

 

Arts and Crafts

 

Traditional arts and crafts are produced throughout the country, although most originated as functional items rather than purely for decoration. Woven baskets and bowls are especially common. The south east of Rwanda is noted for imigongo, a unique cow dung art, whose history dates back to when the region was part of the independent Gisaka kingdom. The dung is mixed with natural soils of various colors and painted into patterned ridges, forming geometric shapes. Other crafts include pottery and wood carving.

 

Basketry

 

Basketry is one of the ancient Rwandan skills that have been able to be sustained by adapting to modern demands. Artistic basketry and utilitarian basketry were executed by women. Very richly ornamented with geometrical motifs would be decorative or used for arranging precious objects. Visitors can buy them at rural workshops and shops in Kigali and Butare.

 

IMIGONGO: Cow dung paintings

The beginning of the 19th century, there was KAKIRA, son of KIMENYI, King of GISAKA KIBUNGO province, (South-East of Rwanda) who invented the art of embellishing house and thus making them more attractive for living. While house style has changed, today it’s the KAKIRA association that adapted the ancient models and paints into new embellishing products, the IMIGONGO of Rwanda. Dominated by black, brown and white whorls and other geometric abstractions, these unique and earthy works can be bought in Kigali, but it’s worth diverting to source to see how the paintings are reflected in local house decorations.

 

Pottery

 

According to the most ancient estimations, pottery was first seen in Rwanda around the 9 century BC. Since that time, potteries have been used for water and local banana wine container, cooking, etc. Nevertheless, the traditional moldering by the Batwa and Bayovu has not changed, While the traditional moldering by the batwa and bayovu has not changed, many potters however have acquired today modern tools for working on clay, mounting, decoration and firing. In Ruhengeri and Gishamvu, visitors will see local people carrying 10 and more potteries on their head on the way to market.

Ceramic

Rwanda produces excellent soft and fine clay for ceramic. In some workshops, modern designed ceramic wares are produced by highly skilled artisans. Rwandan ceramic painting typically uses four colors, blue, brown, yellow and gray made from river stones and soils. Cups and saucers, plates and flower bases are most popular items among both local people and tourists. Tourists can buy ceramic products at various shops in town.

 

Traditional Rwanda Housing

 

Traditional Rwanda Housing was constructed from locally sourced sustainable materials. Historically houses were dome-like round houses made from cedar poles, linked with bamboo and reeds and thatched with grass or banana leaves. During the colonial period clay walling became common, at first for circular thatched houses, the walls of which were sometimes decorated with bold geometrical patterns, and subsequently as rectangular houses reflecting European influence but retaining the clay-filled timber framed walls.