Category: Arts & Culture

Izuba editions, an upcoming library that focuses on the deliverance of historical editions on Rwandan History and the Great Lakes region will be bridging the gap of Rwanda’s limited access to literary history.

Izuba means “the sun” in Kinyarwanda is the name of the library that was first created in Belguim by author Jean Paul Gouteux a co-editor with “l’Espirit magazine“. His essential hope was expanding peoples’ knowledge on what has for the last decade been a rigid history imposed by foreign societies as well as Rwanda a limit on subjects concerning Rwanda history before the genocide.

At the beginning of colonial invasion, two ethnic tribes in Rwanda have had to live with prejudice and this has proven to be hardest thing they have to live with. But the question is, what was Rwanda like before the colonists came and changed everything..Pops up in conversations.

Soon these questions will be answered in the books that will be coming across nations near your local bookstores.

The 1994 tutsi genocide left the world numb with shock that interference in social and cultural affairs can lead up to disaster. In Jean Pierre’s Chretien’s book “Great Lakes history, 2000 year of history.”
He deconstructs the myths that were so important. The society and the Rwandan culture.

His book is full of documentation’.It is full of ancient Rwandan cultural and social relation until the colonial ambitions destroyed all that.

Izuba editions which commenced in 2011 last year teamed up with a group of people that decided to create a place that has the largest possible access to scripts documents and testimonies as well as analysis on the region of the Great lakes.

Other books in the Izuba editions that will soon be available include “The children of God” written by Jean-Luc Galabert, a non fiction novel that talks about the ancient Rwandan social and cultural history.

Jacques Moral’s novel “France in the heart of the Genocide of the Tutsi” and Lastly but not least “The Black Night” a 5 volume book originally in French that contains details and testimonies of the implications of the French in the last genocide that occurred in Rwanda, a special report by Rapport Mucyo.

The books are currently on sale on line or can be bought in bookstores across Belgium for only 20Euro’s, but the Izuba library will be expanding its sales to bookstores across the globe.

Yes, oh yes….it is CARNIVALE season in Brasil…in particular in Rio de Janiero…and anyone who loves dancing as much as I do, knows this is one of the highlights of the global dance calendar each year.

It’s that time of the year…Dancing and of course….drumming….and spangles, feathers….and most of all the spirit that is ‘community’.

I know I am amongst friends as I write this, because the Rwandan skillful dance is known throughout the world. I have a modest collection of antique Rwandan postcards and amongst them your dance traditions are well represented.

I must say, one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life was standing at the entrance to the Sambadrome….tens of thousands singing in Portugese from the stands…drum beats pumping out the rhythm…surrounded by thousands of twirling, dancing, singing dancing performers – young and old, tall and short, thin and fat….everyone in the community…and everyone smiling!

That celebration of community life, dance, culture, history, music and costume….The colour….The spectacle! …that goes from dusk to dawn, twice! …needless to say it was one of the most remarkable experiences of my life!

All praise to the Brasilians for having the brains to build the Sambadrome! What a place! Approximately 30m wide and 700m long…a straight, flat piece of concrete…more like a runway to look at rather than a stage….but indeed – what a stage it becomes!!!!

For a rank amateur dancer like me…the chance of a lifetime to perform in front of tens of thousands!….well, when you think about the global broadcasting of the Carnivale…I guess I did actually perform in front of millions….Woo hoo! (Thankfully they weren’t looking too closely at my footwork or listening to my appauling attempt at singing in Portugese hee hee)

You can’t find anything even close to the Sambadrome in Australia (I wish I could)…instead we spend $100M on building a football stadium to passively watch about forty men play combative sport and chase a ball around a field each weekend during Winter….uuugghghhhh!

As the Rwandan tourism industry is thriving, there is much to be learnt from those Brasilians – the Carnivale itself is a remarkable global tourist drawcard! ..and no wonder!

As reported on the www.rio-carnival.net website “The five-day mega-event will be broadcast live around the world. Carnival in Rio generates 250,000 jobs and revenues of some $640 million for hotels, bars and restaurants, according to state officials. City officials expect more than five million people, including 850,000 tourists, to attend.”

…of course, none of that factors in the profit from the sale of the television broadcasting rights.

With so many similarities between Brasilian Samba and so much Rwandan music…such obvious links between those cultural expressions….I hope there is some sharing of dance expertise fostered by your government…..as the history of Brasilian Samba is deeply embedded in Africa.

“In the slums of downtown Rio, a place referred to as ‘Little Africa’, they established a number of religious houses devoted to religious ceremonies where they played and danced the early forms of samba. However, African religions were illegal in a dominantly catholic Brazil. These roots of samba remained invisible to the white elite for a long time.” Source: http://www.rio-carnival.net/rio_carnival/rio_carnival_programs.php

As for why listen to an Aussie about fostering your tourism through Rwandan dance, I first learnt Latin dance through Rio Rhythmics Latin Dance Academy in Brisbane which has taught more than 20,000 Australians to latin dance since it began in 1994. Thus as a community, we embrace dances from other cultures! Every year its founder, Brazilian Tarcisio Teatini-Climaco takes a group of his students to dance in the Carnivale in Rio.

As reported by Angela Surine in ‘The Courier Mail’ on February 11 – 12, 2012 ‘The equivalent of half the Australian population will take an overseas trip each year by 2017 as the love affair with international travel continues.” With the Australian population over 20 million…that equates to more than 10 million travelling abroad each year….that’s a lot of Aussie tourists looking for somewhere to visit each year!

From my experience Rwanda is known for two things in Australia and they both start with ‘G’….Gorillas…and the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. I know there is a lot more to Rwanda than this….I look forward to the day when Rwandan dance troupes tour Australia regularly.

I know they have travelled elsewhere including in Europe. There is no greater Ambassador for a country – than the; Arts,music,dance,performing arts,visual arts,and mixed media. The Arts builds cross-cultural bridges and respect for others traditions.

Certainly at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in the last few years I have seen the Cuban ballet, a Cuban contemporary dance company, a couple of Brasilian bands, the Bueno Vista Social Club and at The Powerhouse – TaikOz – a large Australian-based Japanese drumming band, whose members regularly study in Japan. I look forward to the day that I read that Rwandan dancers, musicians and singers are coming to town! I’ll be the one in the front row!

We Aussie’s love great music and dance from all over the world! Therefore, please come to Australia…let us shower you with applause! I am sure we will.

The Author is a Director
Plan-it Life Pty Ltd

Australia

This evening at Rwanda’s popular cultural spot, the Ishyo center at Kacyiru, a revival of the Rwandan traditional instrument called “Inanga” will be held this evening on the 17th of February at 7pm till 8.30 pm where the cultural heritage round table discussion will begin.

An evening dedicated to what was thought to almost be lost in the midst of our past is being brought back to life this evening.

Those who have ever experienced the sound and tunes of Rwanda’s major traditional instrument ‘Inanga’ playing alongside the right vocalizations will surely enjoy tonight’s performance; those who haven’t, this is a great insight to where Rwandan artists got their love for harmonizing songs, which is even heard in today’s music.

One of the great legends of Inanga Sophie Nzayisenga, a woman internationally known for her magic fingers and mellow voice will play alongside Daniel Habumuremyi, Jules Sentore and Emmanuel Haburmureyi, some of the great men in Rwandan traditional music.

The Concert will be held in the actual theater hall and will be followed by a round table discussion that will talk about the value of Rwandan heritage and culture in all its aspects, be it, artistic, dramatic, or even simply cultural.

This discussion given by some of Rwanda’s notorious figures famous for their knowledge about our culture, the chief of the national ballet Thomas Bazatsinda, cultural activist and writer Kalisa Rugano, Stage director Dorcy Rugamba, and Dr. Aimable Mugarura a senior lecturer-Social Sciences at National University(NUR) and the founder of Culture Lab Umurage and a host of speakers.

This discussion is open to everyone who wishes to participate.

A Renowned Film Director Kollo Daniel Sanou brings to Rwanda’s big screen all the way from Burkina-Faso, a tragic comedy fiction film that will be held at The Ishyo Theater Hall screened this Tuesday evening.

This comedy has been screened for free in the main hall at the Iysho center this evening.

Film maker Kollo is the director of this hilarious masterpiece hails from Ouagadougou, the capital of the African film festival.

A tragic comedy that also carries a very strong documentary background; the film “Tasuma” which means “Fire” also won the special award of the jury at the FESPACO of 2003.

This 85 minute film which was screened in French with English subtitles, the film depicts the story of an ex soldier of the French colonial army who fought in the service of France in Algeria and Indochina.

The film will be followed by refreshment which will be held in lounge.

Modernisation is threatening the very existence of some of Rwanda’s traditional values and cultural heritage thus the struggle for its survival begins on the 17th of February 2012 in Kigali with an open round table discussion with some of Rwanda’s great minds.

However, modernisation comes with a price; our responsibility to keep our traditional cultures alive.

Its upon this background therefore that Rwandan great minds; Kalisa Rugano a writer and a cultural activist, Thomas Bazatsinda the chief of the national ballet of Rwanda and Dr. Amiable Mugarwa a senior lecturer and founder of the cultural lab “Umurage” will be present at this month’s round table discussion sharing with the public their knowledge on how to preserve cultural heritage while living in a modern society.

IGIHE.com talked to Miss. Angella a Rwandan author that will be present at the discussion, “Right now modernization is not a way of life in the contemporary Rwanda, but the changes are very visible.”

She added, “If you are to compare the past traditional values and cultural lifestyle to today, you will notice changes through the behaviour of present society. For example; the influx of newly created Kinyarwanda words are common. One doesn’t know the difference between the original and slang version which is threatening the original and rich texts into oblivion.”

She explains that what was once a group of a few university students trying to break in the music industry in Rwanda has become an industry with rich talent every other hour. On the contrary all this new modernization of our music is drowning traditional music.

Jacqueline Murekeyisoni a Rwandan woman has reproduced a story of Rukara Rwa Bishingwe in a film as a way to conserve Rwandan traditional history and make it known to the world.

Rukara Rwa Bishingwe is a famous man in Rwandan history who fought for the sovereignty of his country.

He lived in Gahunga in Northern Province and known for fighting to prevent white people from depriving the population of their rights to own land and freedom as well.

Rukara Rwa Bishingwe is said to have killed a white man called Paulin Lupius nicknamed Rugigana by strangling after he slapped him. It was in the colonial period when Rwanda was ruled by Yuhi V Musinga.

Murekeyisoni says that since primary school, the history of Rukara Rwa Bishingwe kept coming back in her mind.

She said, “from the time a teacher told us this story at my primary school, it kept coming back in my mind and now I find it necessary to put it in a film in order to share it with fellow Rwandans and the world in general.”

Kalisa Rugano, the technical director of the film, says that the film is shot very well and it a way of showing the world that Rwanda has ability make good films which many say it impossible for Rwandan.

He says, “we want Rwandan children to know the history of their country too especially model heroes and showing the world that Rwanda is a country with ability.”

He expressed this through a Rwandan saying, “Ugaya intwari y’iwanyu bugacya wimuka” loosely translated as you despise your own heros, and flee the next day.

The film was acted in French so as to make Rwandan history extended to larger audience across the world.

“French language is one of the languages spoken in many countries, we decided to use French in our film so that many people in the world may acquire our history through the film,” explained Rugano.

“it is not yet on the market but they will first of all present it in big festivals,” rugano added.

Murekeyisoni has called upon Rwandans to watch her film on its premier show on Friday February 10, 2012 at 7:00pm, behind Amahoro National Stadium .

It took Rwf 28 million which she says was not simple to mobilise but emphasized that one of the intentions was to show the ability among Rwandans.

ENDS

Rwanda’s only prestigious film festival will be honored at this year’s African film festival in Hollywood. The country’s young film festival begun almost seven years ago to promote Rwanda’s cinema and film industry.

The event will be held in Hollywood at the prestigious Pan African Film festivals on February 9th where Rwanda and other countries from all over the world will also be honored for their work.

This event is expected to be attended by internationally rich and famous stars many of Africa’s great talents. Mr. Eric Kabera has been nominated for the African Channel Vision Award.

IGIHE.com exclusively talked to Eric Kabera the president of the Rwanda Film Festival began his career at a young age where he found his for cinematography.

Kabera is also a screen writer and director, his work for films like ‘100 days’ depicts the story of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and Africa United a sweet family movie depicting many of the challenges Africa faces including; AIDS, prostitution and child abuse.

He told IGIHE.com about what this recognition means–“This award doesn’t only go to me but rather its dedicated to Rwanda, for the whole country has helped in supporting the film industry in Rwanda, this award will give Rwanda the recognition it deserves”.

The Rwandan film festival has so far screened over 100 movies around the globe in countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Israel, United States and Belgium among others. The Journey has been long from having no film industry to being honored at one of Africa’s biggest film awards in over just a few years.

This year’s Rwandan film festival which will begin in July 2012 has two parts; the ‘hillywood’ which will consist of movies locally made and the second is the ‘Kigali festival’ which will consist of showing movies from around the world.

Kabera told IGIHE.com that participants have already started submitting their work. By the end of July this year a few winners will be selected whose films, short stories and screenplays will be shown around Rwanda throughout the festival.

“This is a new and exciting era for Rwanda” says Kabera, “the film industry will be able to bring more to its contribution to the development and growth of Rwanda’s private sector”.

Tonight at 6pm, sounds of drums, stamping feet, cheering crowds and the enchanting voice of Rwandan’s beloved Cecile Kayirebwa will be heard at Green Hills Academy in Nyarutarama, behind the Mtn center.

Cecil Kayirebwa that was in the country last year had come to teach the children from different schools from various regions across Rwanda about the importance of the preservation of our culture through teaching the children the traditional intore dances as well as lessons on Rwandan history.

Kayirebwa has now returned home once again to continue her campaign for building and preserving the Rwandan culture, which begins with her holding tonight’s performance that will raise money for development of arts and culture in Rwanda.

Tonight’s concert will not be about Cecil Kayirebwa alone, no, she will be performing some of most popular songs such as ‘None Twaza’, ‘Umunezero’ and many more with students performing alongside her. The scene will be a small and intimate gathering for lovers of cultural music and dancing.

IGIHE.com went to the school to talk to some of the students excited about performing with one of Rwanda’s great legends.

“We think it is a great way to keep children interested in their heritage as well as teach us more about our culture which could be lost to us because many kids today are more into Hip Hop and Rnb”.

Our reporter also spoke to Green Hills Marketing Manager Mrs. Lucy whom told Igihe.com that this event has received a lot of attention and Tickets have already been sold out.

She told us that apart from the parents of the students and fans of Cecil Kayirebwa, some prominent officials such as……. will be attending the event.

Tonight’s concert which aims at proving how the preservation of culture in our children is extremely important will be showcased as students will be showing off their skills of traditional dancing to traditional Kinyarwanda songs Cecil will be singing herself, this night will be a memorable one for all who not only love Cecil Kayirebwa but all those who love to revel in their heritage and cultural history.

Though discouraged by less recognition of dancers in Rwanda, Jabbo Junior dancers are not willing to give up.

With their limited resources and financial support from friends and family they intend to hold a concert on 17 December as a way of commanding respect.

Berry Manzi the Chief Executive officer of the team which specializes in contemporary dances noted that the progress has not been easy since the 16 member group started performing two years ago.

He argued that Rwandans have not been supportive since majority prefer hiring traditional dancers (Itorero).The few who invite them to perform pay them pea-nuts or offer them transport fee.

Isaac Gasangwa also the team’s choreographer agrees with Manzi that both the public and corporate institutions are showing less will to exploit modern dancing.

Normally an ordinary traditional dancing group is paid Rwf 300,000 to perform for 40 minutes yet contemporary dancers are paid Rwf50,000 to perform for 2 hours.

“We rarely get paid and since we want to shine and get attention from the public, we opt to perform for free, especially in secondary schools,” Manzi noted.

Gasangwa insisted that he was optimistic that dancing has potential since there’re many talented dancers in the country.

This is among the facts that inspired them to hold the concert which will have performances from ten teams.

“The show will be held at Ishyo Centre in Kacyiru, the aim is to show Rwandan unity and talent, I hope they start appreciating our ability by inviting us in big ceremonies if possible even public ones,” said Gasangwa.

He said that the forthcoming concert will cost them Rwf2 million but have only managed to raise Rwf 800,000 through contributions from friends and family.

For the meantime they’re seeking sponsorship from media outlets in advertising their concert.

Jabbo Junior is among the most liked dancing teams , so far out of 7 competitions they have performed they’ve won 5. Among the popular awards they have attained include, Triology dance competition and MTN big up dance.

A Rwandan Peacemaker Edouard Bamporiki has set off to Indianapolis, U.S.A where a record of 129 Americans and international films will screen their produced films in the 2011 Heartland Film Festival.

According to the event organizers’ statements Bamporiki’s acted Kinyarwanda Film is included among the five narrative feature Award-winning films that will vie for the US$100,000 Grand Prize.

In an interview with Bamporiki, the film was selected among the best 100 contesting films to be screened during the competition.

The competition as said by Bamporiki is intended to promote peace activists globally who do it through artistic work and he is the only one invited from Rwanda.

It also intends at promoting positive change in people’s lives through the transformative power of film.

He said that during such presentations and festivals, as a person representing Rwanda, he is always asked many question about his nation.

“I am always asked a lot of questions as compared to other filmmakers but I realized that it’s because when people hear about Rwanda as a country, they want to know more about the country. I do the best to say all the truth.”

Heartland will award more than U.S$150,000 in cash prizes to this year’s winners, including the $100,000 Grand Prize Award for Best Narrative Features, the $25,000 Award for Best Documentary Feature, and the $10,000 Vision Award for Best Short Film.

The 2011 Heartland Film Festival will take off October 13, and ends on October 22 at various locations in the U.S as announced by Heartland Truly Moving Pictures President and CEO, Jeffrey L. Sparks, at the organizations’ announcement recently.

The Heartland Film Festival is a film event held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana. First held in 1992, its goal is to recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.