Rwanda Culture information | Rwandan Cultural
Rwanda attained sovereignity as a state on July 1 1962 from the Belgians their colonial masters and ever since Rwanda has been governed by Presidents:Gregoire Kayibanda,Juvenal Habyarimana,Pasteur Bizimungu and currently Paul Kagame. Rwanda has gone through trying moments but has managed to pull Herself up.Initially French was the national language in Rwanda since Rwanda was colonised by the Belgians but that changed a couple of years ago and Rwanda is an English speaking country a trait She had to pick up before she joined the COMMON WEALTH on 29th November 2009.Other languages spoken in Rwanda are:Kinyarwanda and Swahili;it must be noted that French is still widely spoken, as the nationals adjust to English.
The earlist known inhabitants of Rwanda were Pygmoid hunter-gatherers eponymous of the present day Twa who make up less than 1% of the country’s current population.It is believed that about 2000 years,agricultural and pastoralists migrants from the west settled in the present day Rwanda and have come to be known as the Hutu and Tutsi who comprise the Rwanda that managed to eschew European penetrations.
The first European occupants of Rwanda were the Germans between 1884-1885 after the Berlin conference chaired by Otto Von Bismack the then chancellor of German, where colonisation of Africa was made formal.German however was made the formal colonialist a decade later.This was short lived as the Belgians took over in 1918.
The Belgians ushered in a different form of governace where they used native Tutsi chiefs to rule Rwanda,this was reffered to as indirect rule.This was done at the expense of the Hutu who were gravely patronised and this was to cause colossal divisions between the 2 tribes since at the end of their rule,the Belgians transferred the political clout to the Hutu who were burning with revenge.This transfer was carried out by the European colonialists for fear of the spread of communism and Pan-African to the Hutu from neighbouring Congo under the stewardship of Patrice Lumumba the then head of state of the Congo.
It must be noted that the colonial rule in Rwanda greatly influenced culture in Rwanda as it created an inferiority complex within the natonals and influenced the language the people took on in French and also many mannerisms which are closely related to the French.However,even before colonial rule Rwanda was massively endowed with cultural wealth.
Music,dance and drama are 2 of the most important aspects of Rwandese tradition as various folk songs,dances,plays which portray bravery and excellence among the Rwandese are common.Music instruments like the lulunga which is an eight stringed harp that orchestrates traditonal symphonies are revered.Drums are very synonymous with Rwandese dances as they produce corollary rythms which compliment their traditional set pieces.These traditional dances are very common in rural Rwanda and can be arranged on short notice through the National Museum in Butare.Most vibrant of the dances is the intore(meaning the Chosen One) which was intially only performed in the Royal Court but is now available to all.
A more sophiscated upbeat neo Rwandese genre of music can be heard just about anywhere in and around Rwanda but is more pronunced in churches.Traditional Rwandese articrafts are also available in urban Rwanda in shops,markets and city streets although made in rural Rwanda.Modern and exquisite paintings that are meticulously put together are displayed at the Kigali centre for the formation Of Arts;most pronounced of these artistic gems is the cowdung painting.These are collected from various villages as far as Nyakarimbi on the borders of Rwanda and Tanzania near the Rusumo falls.However,these articrafts are available in Kigali but in the true spirit of adventure a sashay to Rusumo falls is advised so that the source of the crafts can be visited for custom prerogative designs and for a an overall tour of Rwanda and Rusumo falls in particular.
