Category: Lifestyle

After the thrilling masquerade ball party held at the Manor Hotel last Saturday, the Manor hotel has rolledout more specialized events to compliment daily events at the hotel.

Irene Nuwagaba, the hotel’s marketing manager, explains, Monday is Shisha night, Tuesday movie night, Wednesday beautiful singles, Thursday Karaoke, Friday Swagger night, Saturday Reggea-Ragga and Sunday which consists of two events, Teenz Buzz and Bollywood night.

Nuwagaba says, “we’re improving our menu. on 27th July we’re organizing the first food and wine testing- it’s an event meant to officially launch our new menu in all our three restaurants including: the Indian, Chinnese and Italian hotels, also our main bar we be serving unique drinks such as margarita.”

After the food and testing event the following evening will consist of the masqueraded ball night on 28th July. The event has been repeated due to a high demand obtained from the hotel’s suggestion box.

The yet to be introduced meals will be from Mongolian and a dinner to launch the meals will be held on 3rd August.

“Due to geographic proximity and deep historic ties with china and Russia, Mongolian cuisine is also influenced by Chinese and Russian cuisine.

Our favorite will be Mongolian barbecue which is beef meat and vegetables cooked in large, round, solid iron griddles at temperatures of up to 300 °C (572 °F).”

Also part of the new menu, is African dishes which consist of the majority local cuisine, an event to serve the meal officially will be held on 17th August.

Planning your wedding gets heavier as the D-day approaches. The dress, the shoes, the decorations all drive you crazy.

You won’t worry about your hairdo anymore because here are some simple hairstyles that will make you look fresh, elegant and beautiful on your wedding day.

Here is a nice, natural, beautiful African look (afro). You need to just comb trough, put some hair spray and a gorgeous flower (natural or artificial it depends on your tastes and choices).

Healthy long curls just do it! They give you a fresh looking appearance. Your face is completely displayed. Accomplishing this hairstyle is very easy and not time consuming.

Are you wearing braids? Well and good, braids can be as chic as any unbraided hair once they are well arranged and well tied. This is another easy, purely African way to go that also goes for dreadlocks.

If you like a Chignon, this is suitable for you. Very simple and prestigious.

No more stress when it comes to the right hairdo to go for on your wedding, these are only few in hundreds and their simplicity will just be a complement to your fabulous wedding.

Although DRC has always been in the press for reasons of war and minerals plundering, this time its in the news for beauty, fashion and glamour.

Miss Mbeni 2012 hails from the province of Bandundu.

After 12 years with Dreadlocks on his head, Lion Manzi has taken a tough decision and cut off his trademark hair style.

“if someone takes a personal decision to have dreadlocks on his head, I believe its his personal choice and decision to cut them off,”Manzi told IGIHE.

Musician and judge, Francis Bihoyiki popularly known by his stage name Baket, has released a song by the name Ubutane (divorce), the 4 minute song discourages separation among married couples.

Baket is a judge at Gatumba’s lower instance court in Ngororero district, he highlights that he decided the theme of song due to a number of divorce cases which consistently appear on his desk.

“I get frustrated whenever I look at some of the issues which can be solved amicably, my song advises couples to exercise better communication especially in solving various domestic issues, really some problems are too petty to result to divorce,” he advises.

His latest song Ubutane is seen by the majority of his fans as a comeback. The once gospel singer has been silent since the year 2009 after getting the job as a judge.

“Let me set the record straight I won’t be singing or perform for any financial gains since the law restricts me to do that, but rather I will be singing for fan since I believe I’ve a calling to educate my society on good morals,” he explains.

The judge started composing songs in 2004 while he was pursing Law Degree at the National University of Rwanda. In 2006 his music career climaxed after releasing his debut album which contained hit songs such as Agahinda k’inkoko (the agony of a hen).

So far there’re allegations that his divorce song is in line with his preparation to release a second album slated to be unleashed by the end of this year.

Hollywood celebrity couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard is currently in Rwanda where they have visited the National Museum of Rwanda in Huye district.

Actress Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard were named among the hottest couples in Hollywood.

Once again made the couple was listed among the 100 Hottest Couples of 2012. Each year there is a ranking in Hollywood’s powerful couples based on popularity, success, attractiveness among other qualities.

Four international organisations have come together with a treatment plan they believe will inspire and help the youth of Rwanda to open up to talking about school related gender based violence through the film script competition for young Rwandan film makers that was launched on the 15th of march 2012 up to November 30th.

The competition aims at encouraging young Rwandans to come up with a sample treatment or idea on script that focuses on zero tolerance to gender based violence.

The organisation consisting of GIZ, Plan Rwanda, KFM and Jumelage Rhinaninie Platinat which are German organisations, will givse 10,000 Euros to the winners of the short films that will be presented at the gala to be held on November the 30th of 2012.

There will be three awards, the first is for the 20 minutes film that goes for 2,500 EUR, the second is the 15minute film that goes for 20,000 Euro, and the last will be special award prize of 5.360 Euros for the best short film on school related gender based violence in Rwanda.

“Many girls and boys in rural districts across Rwanda are dealing with gender based violence, But the fear and lack of who to turn to has led these children to drop out of school.”

“We need to assist, these children, to step forward and speak out so we can help prevent this from continuing today,” says Katherine Nicol, a gender specialist working for Plan international Rwanda told.

In the district of Gatsibo 13 year old Uwimana Kayetsi says she hated school due to the constant bullying she would receive from the elder boys who would taunt her and tease her.

She says. “I could not complain at home for I was scared they would take me out of school.”

I could not talk about it in school because the boys would find out and would probably hurt me, so I was stuck until some people came to our school and spoke about gender based violence and soon afterward the bullying stopped.”

This film script competition will not only benefit the young filmmakers in receiving recognition and a large sum of money but most importantly the films that will be screened at a gala concluding the festival which will celebrate the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

Hospitalised Rwandan artist, Athanase Sentore 77 is reportedly able to play Rwandan traditional musical instrument Inanga while on his hospital bed.

His son also a popular local musician Masamba Intore wrote on his Facebook Wall that even though he wished his father could be home in Rwanda with them he wishes his father Sentore to get better.

He said that his father is feeling much better at Fortis Hospital in Mumbai-India.

Masamba had gone to visit his father in india where he is being treated. He said his father Sentore goes about his business while still playing the Inanga on his hospital bed. His doctors are very fond of him and deal with him seriously

Masamba thanked those who supported him in prayer and recognises that God answered their prayers.

Masamba hurriedly left India on March 6 when he had learnt that his father’s health was deteriorating.

Sentore flew to India for treatment on January 7 this year. He suffers from nervous related conditions other ailments mainly due to age.

The 2012 Miss and Mr – Rwanda tourism university college pageant is on again this 9th March. The last beauty contest at RTUC was held in 2009.

The crowning event shall be conducted at Sports View Hotel at 5pm. Rehearsals have been ongoing at Alpha palace hotel.

The tight competition comprises of seventeen contestants- nine males and eight females between the ages of 17 and 25years with a minimum height of 1,65m and all are students at RTUC.

The competition is based on the theme- building successful skill customer service to boost business in Rwanda.

IGIHE talked to some of the contestants; Maxime uwishema a second year student says he is ready for anything that comes out of the competition but has high hopes of winning. “My biggest threat is Mugwaneza Raoul, I see him as potential winner. I’m confidence though sometimes scared,” he said.

We are being trained by professionals. I know what is expected of me and ready for Friday competition he added. My parents have built my confidence and raised my hopes of winning; I know I can beat anyone in this competition.

Murenzi Michael a first year student says Sandra a former second runner-up at the School of Finance and Banking is one of the trainers teaching contestants about public speaking and presentation and facial expression has prepared the whole team for the day and he too is ready.

“I am going to walk in the clouds on Friday’’ I do not wish to lose but if I do I will get a chance of learning from my mistakes. We have been trained to catwalk and about fashion. The competition increases students’ chances of working with RwandAir. Participants will get more opportunities from other organisations.

Milleye a female contestant says she’s under tension about the whole competition, “I have never been before a big crowd and that makes me lose confidence but I know I will win.”

“The youth in Rwanda are not only here to prepare for the future” say’s Carine Uwera 20–student at Adventist University of Rwanda, “we are also here to change it.”

Uwera is a confident Rwandan, tall, beautiful, short natural hair and brown skin. She walks toward me with her head down, as though she is shy to be seen. She takes her seat and orders for a soft drink.

She shares with IGIHE.com the discussions she and other students from various primary and secondary schools and universities have commenced. Her team of four, plans to go to different schools and discuss issues the youth are afraid of discussing with their parents or community leaders.

“These debates all began when we first heard a story about a young female friend of ours that was H.I.V positive all because she was too shy to go and buy protection for fear of judgment.”

Uwera shared a story of a young lady resident at Kicukiro district. During courtship her male companion refused to use a condom. Instead he sent her to go get it, claiming she knew the area and he was a guest. However, she later gave in because she was more afraid of what the people would think of her if they saw her buying condoms, especially since some of them knew her.

“This was a while ago before we found out that she got infected with HIV and after that the discussions started”, “I felt there is a serious problem in our society, and I was glad to find I wasn’t the only one to think that.”

We are at a pool side, as the sun sets and the screaming voices of the children begin to disappear at the Novotel hotel in Kayciru, I notice four young and very hip people walking towards our table, 26 year old peter a student at KIST, Stephanie a 26 year old telephone operator, Patrick 19 years, a young shop vendor from Nyamirambo and Teresa 23 a waitress working at a pub in Remera. All these young minds have come with one thing on their mind, why the youth are choosing prevention over protection.

Carine begins the discussion with introductions and then hits straight into it as though we have been talking about it for hours; she goes around asking what they think about abstinence over protection.

“I believe to risk one’s life over a few moments of pleasure doesn’t seem worth it to me. So I understand those people who prefer to abstain than protect themselves. Abstinence is another sort of protection” says Teresa. It may seem a little extreme to some but I would do the same. I don’t think I could buy condoms in a small boutique where people know me, I would rather not have sex at all.”

Other ladies say it was unfair for women, because being seen buying condoms portrays them as prostitutes or loose women. However, they are simply trying to be safe. “Why can’t we walk in a shop and buy condoms without being judged. Isn’t that what all the sensitization on safe sex is about?”

“Any men or women that have plans to have sex, even if it was a spur of the moment, we should all be responsible for our partners and not those who aren’t. Women should know that if they don’t take the initiative to either say something or act, then the issue will stay a taboo forever.” Says one identified only as Peter.

After a lengthy discussion with this group i meet Damascene a local vendor whose shop is located near bars at Kacyiru. He says “I get a lot of men that buy protection but I would be very shocked to see a young woman buying Prudence (condoms), the man should be the one to buy it for her because it isn’t normal, but don’t care, it’s her business,”

Tony a customer purchasing phone credit was asked what he would do if he were to find that late at night he failed to find condom for protection. Would you have intercourse or not? He replied “I would firstly make sure that I have checked in all the shops, if they all don’t have then I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

Another man disagreed with Tonys submission saying “you really believe that a young man who has spent hours picking up a girl, after all that trouble, she allows to go with him and he fails to find condoms will go home?” he laughs then say’s “maybe one out of a hundred”.

The cultural beliefs that prevents women from protecting themselves is Carine and her groups topic for this week and will be discussed around schools in Kigali starting this coming Monday.