Discover Rwanda’s Museums

A look into

Discover Rwanda’s

Museums Snoop into Rwanda’s

cultural experiences

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|Contents

Culture embed

Forward

in the next

generation

The History of

INMR Brief History of

Rwanda Snoop into Rwanda’s

cultural experiences

Museum in schools is an outreach program which takes cultural and natural heritage indoor activities from INMR to respective schools. During this period, the outreach team visits schools and, alongside with itinerant exhibitions to discuss museums’ activities and Rwanda’s heritage in general to respective schools with their students and teachers at large.

Discover Rwanda’s

The Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR)

Museums

WHY RWANDAN DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS OUGHT TO PRIOTIZE CULTURE

Local artists exhibit at the museum

Museum in

schools

given space to

Gusura Ingoro z’Igihugu z’Umurage w’u Rwanda byamwongereye ubumenyi mu nganzo y’amahamba n’amazina y’inka

Read more inside...

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Forward The Institute of National Museums of Rwanda and Heritage sites are a range of attractions aimed at everyone. Whether you’re looking for fun, knowledge, education or relaxation; you can rediscover or discover Rwanda’s multilayered history whilst we preserve traditional practices with traditional skills developments.

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a d v e r t i s e m e n t p l ac e h o l d e r Here you can place a full page A4 advertisement

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By the institute looking at the past, it means that transformational changes are designed to keep stories refreshed, allowing our visitors to benefit from an excellent experience as we all build our future. National Museums and natural & cultural heritage must reflect the values of our nation and our members of staff replicate this with their creativity and energy.

The time is right to remind ourselves of the need to protect and promote our cultural heritage as well as cultural tourism that our country offers.

The diversity and range of museums and heritage sites gives the Institute an opportunity to present more to the global community. We have traced the history back further to World War I in collaboration with the German Embassy in Kigali. Steel lorry wheels along with some archived photographs were given to the Institute by Germany embassy in September 2013.

The Institute prides itself on working collaboratively with multiple partners. Notably, it is about ensuring good working practices are set up with global partners and different communities to progress on initiatives that fulfill the national vision. For example, architectural consultancy for the buildings is sought from countries like South Africa, Germany United Kingdom and Belgium.

Today, INMR is positioning itself as a core stakeholder in promoting Rwandan Cultural tourism, with the aim of national economic development.

Amb. Robert MASOZERA Director General of INMR

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HISTORY|

|Museums

The History of

INMR The Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR) and Heritage sites are a range of attractions aimed at everyone. Whether you’re looking for fun, knowledge, education or relaxation; you can rediscover or discover Rwanda’s multilayered history whilst preserving traditional practices with traditional skills developments.

By the institute looking at the past, it means that transformational changes are designed to keep stories refreshed, allowing visitors to benefit from an excellent experience as we all build our future. National Museums and natural & cultural heritage must reflect the values of our nation and our members of staff replicate this with their creativity and energy.

The time is right to remind ourselves of the need to protect and promote our cultural heritage as well as cultural tourism that our country offers.

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The diversity and range of museums and heritage sites gives the Institute an opportunity to present more to the global community.

We have traced the history back further to World War I in collaboration with the German Embassy based in Rwanda. Steel lorry wheels along with some archived photographs were given to the Institute by Germany embassy in September 2013.

The Institute prides itself on working collaboratively with multiple partners. Notably, it is about ensuring good working practices are set up with global partners and different

communities to progress on initiatives that fulfill the national vision. For example, architectural consultancy for the buildings is sought from countries like South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium.

The diversity and range of museums and heritage sites gives the Institute an opportunity to present more to the global community.

Institute of National Museums of Rwanda has 8 sites:

Ethnographic Museum - Huye district

King’s Palace Museum - Nyanza - Rukari

Natural History Museum (Kandt House) - Kigali-Nyarugenge

National Art Gallery located - Nyanza-Rwesero

Rwanda Art Museum - Kigali-Kanombe

Museum of Environment - Karongi

National Liberation Park - Mulindi

Museum for Campaign Against Genocide - Kigali (Parliament)

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inmr| HISTORY|

Brief History of

Rwanda For centuries, Rwanda existed as a centralized monarchy under a succession of Tutsi kings from one clan, who ruled through cattle chiefs, land chiefs and military chiefs. The king was supreme but the rest of the population, Bahutu, Batutsi and Batwa, lived in symbiotic harmony.

In 1899, Rwanda became a German colony and, in 1919, the system of indirect rule continued with Rwanda as a mandate territory of the League of Nations, under Belgium.

From 1959, Batutsi were targeted, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and sending almost two million of them into exile. The First Republic, under President Gregoire Kayibanda, and the second, under President Juvenal Habyarimana, institutionalized discrimination against Batutsi

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and subjected them to period massacres.

The Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU) was formed in 1979 by Rwandan refugees in exile, to mobilize against divisive politics and genocide ideology, repeated massacres, statelessness and the lack of peaceful political exchange. In 1987, RANU became the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF). On 1 October 1990, the RPF launched an armed liberation struggle that ultimately ousted the dictatorship in 1994 and ended the

genocide which cost more than one million lives – Batutsi and moderate Bahutu who opposed the genocidal regime.

After Kigali fell to RPA (RPF’s armed wing) on 4 July 1994, RPF formed a Government of National Unity headed by President Pasteur Bizimungu, bringing parties that did not participate in the genocide together. In 2000, Parliament voted out President Pasteur Bizimungu and RPF appointed then Vice-President and Minister of Defence, Major General Paul Kagame as the President of the Republic to lead the coalition government. In 2003 President Paul Kagame was elected with landslide majority to serve a term of seven years. During those seven years, the country made unprecedented socio-economic and political progress and consolidated peace, stability as well as social cohesion among Rwandans.

RADISSON BLU HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTRE, KIGALI

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Culture|

|Museums

Snoop into Rwanda’s

cultural experiences

Centuries of music, dance, history and hospitality run strong in Rwanda

taught the technique of jumping which forms a significant part of the dance. Performed wearing grass wigs and clutching spears this dance is a true spectacle of Rwanda.

Live dance performances can be seen at cultural villages, museums and as entertainment at many lodges and hotels across Rwanda. The Iby’Iwacu cultural village in Musanze, and the National Museum of Rwanda have regular performances and daily dances occur at the RDB office at Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park.

Museums

Ancient traditions of honour and hospitality run strong in Rwanda, and anybody who takes the time to discover the Rwandan culture find a proud and unique people, happy to welcome you into their lives and introduce you to their traditions.

Music and dance play an indispensable role in everyday life, and performances range from dashing demonstrations of bravery and prowess to humorous songs, light-hearted dances, and rural artistry with roots in traditional agriculture. Traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary lulunga—a harp-like 10|

instrument with eight strings— while more celebratory dances are backed by a drum orchestra, which typically comprises seven to nine members who collectively produce a hypnotic and exciting explosion set of intertwining rhythms.

Dancing Performances The finest displays of Rwanda’s dynamic traditional musical and dance styles are performed by the Intore Dance Troupes.

Founded several centuries ago, the Intore, (the Chosen Ones) who performed exclusively for the Royal Court, were given military training and

Though the national museum of Rwanda (today’s Ethnographic Museum) was only established in 1989, the country’s network of compelling museums has expanded rapidly since then, and today there are eight sites across the country administered by the Institute of National Museums.

From ethnography to environment and art to architecture, the national museums of Rwanda are among the finest in East Africa.

To have a satisfying experience, one can visit locations around the country, from the centre of Kigali is the Natural History Museum at Kandt House, the Art Museum at the

former Presidential palace in Kanombe and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum at Parliament.

In Huye town is the Ethnographic Museum, National Art Gallery at Nyanza-Rwesero, the King’s Palace Museum at NyanzaRukari, the Museum of Environment located in Karongi and finally the National Liberation Park at Mulindi in the North.

Crafts A distinctively Rwandan craft is the Imigongo or cow dung paintings that are produced by a local co-operative in the village of Nyakarambi near the border with Tanzania.

Dominated by black, brown

and white whirls and other geometric shapes, these unique and earthy works can be bought in craft markets throughout the country.

Weaving and basket making is a traditional art still used today to make dry containers for storing food and medicines. | 11

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These are also known as peace pots and had traditional values such as to commemorate weddings or as a welcome gift.

to take part; given the range of projects addressed through umuganda, you’re sure to find one to fit your interests.

Pottery is one of the oldest forms of art in Rwanda and can still be seen in many towns today using traditional Batwa techniques. Known for its good quality clay these potteries are still widely used for cooking and storing liquids.

Genocide Memorial Sites

The last Saturday of every month, shops are closed, buses stop running, traffic disappears from the roads, and Rwandans set aside their personal business for the morning and contribute their efforts to public works projects around the country, which can include litter cleanup, tree planting, building houses for the vulnerable, and more. The social and economic benefits of umuganda are easy for all to see (Rwanda isn’t the cleanest country in Africa by accident!), and whether or not you have special skills to contribute, all visitors are warmly invited

Congo Nile Trail With twelve coffee-washing stations, three tea plantations, three cities, dozens of villages, and more beaches, coves, waterfalls, valleys, and vistas than we can count, the winding path of the Congo Nile Trail is a true rambler’s paradise, and offers some of the finest hiking to be had anywhere in east and central Africa.

Winding its way along the fringes of the lake through the peaks of Rwanda’s endlessly verdant mille collines (thousand hills), a through-hike of the Congo Nile Trail is as challenging as it is rewarding, and with a peak elevation of 2630m, it’s a serious workout to boot. The full 227km route takes 10 days to complete on foot (including a rest day to soak up the beaches around Karongi), but can be 12|

approached in sections based on your ability and interests.

Whether you’re keen to soak up daily life in a traditional village, tour a historic church, swim and paddle on the lakeshore, or see where your morning coffee gets its start, drop by any RDB office and they can get your Congo Nile excursion started.

The genocide memorial in Kigali is included on every city tour and is a must-see.

Rwanda’s painful past has haunted the country for years; however, their impressive recovery story has turned them into an inspiration. The genocide memorial acts as a humbling reminder to those present and honors those lost.

This is a worthwhile visit to gain insight into the history of genocide against the Tutsi.

The memorial Center is open every day from 8am to 5pm, but the last entrance is at 4pm.

It opens at 2pm on Umuganda Saturdays (the last Saturday of every month when Rwandans

get together for community clean up). There is no fee to enter, however, audio guides are available. The Center is located in Gisozi.

While the largest memorial is in Kigali, the genocide against the Tutsi touched all corners of Rwanda, and as such there are many emotionally charged memorials located throughout the country. Some are as simple as a quiet garden space for contemplation, while others are larger and hold relics, remains, and exhibits on the genocide itself.

Some of the memorials can be found in Nyanza of Kicukiro in Kigali, Ntarama and Nyamata Genocide Memorials both in Bugesera District, and Murambi Genocide Memorial set in a former technical school just north of Nyamagabe in Rwanda’s southwest.

Umuganda Dating back to colonial times and translated from Kinyarwanda as “coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome”, Umuganda is when Rwandans from all walks of life come together to work for the good of their neighbourhoods and their nation as a whole. | 13

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Discover Rwanda’s

Museums To cherish Rwanda’s heritage on September 18, 1989, the National Museum of Rwanda was inaugurated in Huye District, Southern Province. the Huye based ethnographic museum was the first to open in the country until 2004 when

|Museums

Ethnographic Museum The Ethnographic Museum is located in Huye, 132 km South of Rwanda’s Capital Kigali. This Museum was built in 1987, and now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections. Its seven galleries display historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological artifacts accompanied by visual aides, giving visitors a rich insight into the culture of Rwandans.

government commenced the launch of more museums countrywide, these are:

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National Art Gallery located at Nyanza-Rwesero

King’s Palace Museum (Rukali)

introduced at the museum because cows form an integral part of the Rwandan Culture and were initially the King’s symbol of prestige. Visitors are always fascinated by the procession of these royal cows which are famous for their impressive long horns, height gentle nature and the traditional poems.

The King’s Palace Museum is based in Nyanza District, Southern Province, 88 km from the City of Kigali. King Mutara III Rudahigwa’s Palace offers a detailed look into the Rwandan monarchical system and its abolition in early 1960s due 16|

to colonialism. The palace was restored to its 19th Century state as a replica and was made entirely with traditional materials.

Recently the Long horned royal cows “Inyambo” were

Along the traditional palace is the 1931, a modern palace where King Mutara Rudahigwa resided until he passed away in 1959. It now serves to display Rwanda’s history from the 15th Century.

On the neighbouring hill of Mwima, one can also visit the mausoleum where King Mutara III, his wife Queen Rosalie Gicanda and King Kigeli IV Ndahindurwa were laid to rest

Located in Nyanza District about 85km from the City of Kigali, the construction of the building started in 1957 and completed in 1959 as a Palace for King Mutara III Rudahigwa but he passed away before he could occupy it.

In May 2006 the building was transformed into a National Art Gallery until May 2018 when a new Museum of Art was opened up in the former state house located in Kanombe. For the moment, a new exhibition focusing on “Home grown solutions” as one of strategies and solutions used by the country for economic development and peace building aftermath of 1994 Genocide against Tutsis is under preparation.

Meanwhile, the museum is still open to the public with exhibition photos on daily life and history of Africans among them are Nigerians, Ugandans and Rwandans. | 17

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Museum of Environment

The museum of environment opened doors on July 16, 2015 on the shores of Lake Kivu in the Western Province, the building consists of two floors with a traditional herbal medicine garden based on rooftop. It is the first and only environment museum on the continent that exhibits energy sources both renewable and none renewable. The museum is a centre of education for visitors, helps them to understand and safeguard their environment and ensure an integrated and durable development.

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National Liberation Park Museum

Established at a popularly known location as “Umurindi w’Intwari” in the Northern Provincial district of Gicumbi, 80 kilometres northeast of Kigali lies the National Liberation Museum Park. This museum tells the story of the Rwandan Liberation struggle that brought an end to the Genocide against Tutsis. This struggle was initiated by the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF),

led by its military wing, the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), from October 1, 1990 to July 4, 1994.

The museum illustrates sequence of events before, during, and after the struggle through visuals that include texts and artefacts. One of the objects exhibits the bunker which protected the then Chairman of High Command,

now President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E Paul Kagame.

Other objects embody the Arusha Agreement, the Campaign against Genocide, radio Muhabura used by the RPF and RPA for mobilisation, likeminded events as well as initiatives. Visitors are always fascinated by the longstanding bunker that sheltered the Chairman of RPA along other officials’ bunkers. | 19

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Museum for Campaign Against Genocide their initial positions to defend themselves and rescue victims of Genocide in their vicinity when campaign against Genocide began.

The Museum for Campaign Against Genocide (CAG) is located in the Parliamentary building, in Kigali just 800 meters behind conventional center road point, and just 4.9km, 9 minutes’ drive from Kanombe Airport. The museum was officially inaugurated H.E Paul Kagame on December 13, 2017.

CAG Museum is built in the Parliamentary building which was once known as Conseil National de Development (CND). The building hosted the Rwandan Patriotic Front politicians and the 600 man protection force (3BN) from 28th December 1993 as they were in the preparations for the installation of Broad Based Transitional Government and the National Transitional 20|

Assembly and these 600 man protection force the (3BN) were the ones given the order first on 07/04/1994 by the RPA Chairman of High Command Major General Paul Kagame to break out from

CAG Museum depicts in detail how the Campaign Against Genocide Plan was executed by RPF/A following the withdrawal of UN troops leaving the targeted Tutsi under the mercy of the Genocidaires and how only the RPF/A forces who were in the war of liberation took the unilateral decision to stop Genocide, Rescue victims of Genocide and defeat the Genocidal forces. The museum also has its outer part comprised of monuments including the 12.7mm Machine Gun that helped in containing the advancing genocidal forces.

Rwanda Art museum The “Rwanda Art Museum” in Kanombe is located in 4Kms from Kigali International Airport. Formerly the Presidential Palace Museum changed into Rwanda Art Museum effective May 18, 2018.

The new museum displays contemporary artworks produced by both Rwandan and international artists. The aim is to provide visitors’ an insight into the originality of Rwandan creativity, arts development from centuries up-to-date, whilst not overlooking traditional or modern imaginations.

Apart from permanent exhibition, The Rwanda Art Museum hosts temporally and moving arts exhibitions as well. Young visitors can also enjoy the Art Kids’ Studio where they are

given the opportunity to put their art skills to work. The aim is for the museum to be a place where artists meet and exchange ideas. In this line, a room for them to exhibit their artworks has been provided by the INMR to their Federation.

As this museum served as the Presidential Palace during 1970s until late 2000, visitors can visit this historical building. The aircraft debris from FALCON 50’s presidential jet that went down on 6th April 1994 are also found at this heritage site. | 21

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Kandt House Museum

Richard

Kandt During the German colonial occupation (1884 - 1916), Dr. Richard Kandt a German physician and explorer embarked on an exploration of Rwanda in 1897 specifically searching for the source of Nile River.

Kandt House Museum, the former Natural History Museum is located at KN 90 St, about 1Km from Kigali downtown.

This museum is formerly well known as Natural History Museum (NHM), its name was changed into Kandt House Museum since December 17, 2017.

Currently, Kandt House Museum comprises three main parts: The first part presents Rwandan life in all aspects (social, economic, and politically: monarchism) before the colonial period.

The second part, which is the biggest part of the museum traces experience of Rwandan people during the colonial period, more specifically under the German rule starting from 1884 (at the 22|

time of Berlin conference), throughout colonial administration, World War I, up to 1916, including Richard Kandt’s life and his activities in Rwanda.

Another attractive gallery forms the third part where the history of Kigali, before and during colonial time, and its naissance as the capital city, is well presented.

The remaining part of the former Natural History Museum is a temporary exhibition of live snakes, and a baby crocodile (measured 1 m in 2017). While visiting this external area of the museum, one can enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding scenery, notably the stunning view of Kigali, Shyorongi, and Jari mountains.

Kandt was the first European to set up residence in Rwanda, he built and lived in a house on Nyarugenge one of Kigali’s hills, a house that was transformed into Kandt House Museum today.

The house believed to be one of the oldest ‘modern architectural’ buildings in Kigali is located at KN 90 St, about 1Km from Kigali downtown.

Born on December 17, 1867 in Posen, Kandt started as physician in Germany, before the turn of the 19 century he began exploring the North-West of German East Africa and settled in Kigali. He is credited to have founded Kigali in 1908; the settlement has changed since to become the capital

city and Rwanda’s biggest metropolitan.

Kandt also appointed as Resident of Rwanda by the German administrators.

Kandt tells about his exploration in his book Caput Nili to discovered one of the Nile-sources in the Nyungwe Forest of Rwanda, the essential Nile-source in his opinion.

Dr. Richard Kandt died in April 2018 in a military hospital in Nuremberg, German having suffered from a gas poisoning in World War I. | 23

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Intore Dancers

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INMR|

|Services

The Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR)

Services offered at Rwanda Museums To both national and international visitors

Services eligibility Accessibility

• Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 am up to 5:30pm • On the last Saturday on every month all museums open at 12:00 am • Open all days of the year, except on 7th April (the 1994 Genocide Memorial day).

Timeframe to access the services after request or application

• Immediately after paying entrance fees.

• A visit is valid for one ticket holder and last only for one day.

• A combined ticket is valid for 3 months.

Tariffs for accessing the service?

Vision: To provide museums and Heritage sites around the country with a platform for information and exposing Rwandan cultural and natural richness.

Core functions: •

To collect, research and preserve all tangible and intangible components of the national cultural and natural heritage.

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To exhibit the national heritage in a pleasant and educational manner.

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To open up specialized museums in different parts of the country in order to make known Rwandan heritage to the general public.

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To develop national heritage through promotion of cultural tourism in order to make it a source of national economic development.

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To establish relationships and collaborations with other national or international institutions with the similar mission.

Mission: The INMR‟s mission is to document, collect, preserve, study and showcase the past, present cultural and natural heritage of Rwanda, as a country.

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Visiting all current permanent and temporary exhibitions of the museums.

Admissions fees: I. Single tickets Nationals visitors: - Children above 6 years and Undergraduate Students: 700 RWF each and if they are a group of above 20, each pays 500Frw; - Adults: 1500 RWF; International visitors: - Students: 3000 rwf or $5; - Adults residents:5000 rwf or $8 - Adults non- residents: 6000rwf or $10 EAC/CEPGL visitors - Adults: 3000 Rwf or $5 - Children above 6yrs and undergraduates: 1000Rwf or $2 and 700 Rwf each if they are in a group of 20 and above.

II.Combined tickets • All museums: Discount of 30% • King’s Palace Museum & National Art Gallery: Discount of 20% • Presidential Palace Museum & Kandt House Museum: Discount of 20% • Ethnographic Museum, King’s Palace Museum & National Art Gallery: Discount of 25% • National Liberation Museum Park & Campaign Against Genocide Museum (CAG): Discount of 30%

Required documents

Valid Passport/Identity cards, Valid students cards.

Procedures

Non particular procedures are required apart from paying the entrance fees through Rwanda online “www.irembo.gov.rw”

What, if any, other institutions do I need to visit to access the service? (Eg. For payment of service costs or to ge t additional documents).

Rwanda online “ www.irembo.gov.rw”

Is there a complaint procedure?

Complaints and more inquiries can be addressed to info@museum.gov.rw

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|Services

Services offered at Rwanda Museums Services eligibility Is there any additional information regarding this service that is useful to know?

Visiting all current permanent and temporary exhibitions of the museums.

Visitors can always visit our website: www.museum.gov.rw

Services offered at Rwanda Museums Services eligibility

Photographs and Videos: - Museum gardens: 25.000 rwf - Films and documentaries: 100,000rwf (on special request)

Rates

Or for further information call on these telephone numbers: (+250) 730741093 / 738742026

Hiring Gardens:

Use of Library.

What’s service am I eligible?

Located at the Ethnographic Museum, the library is accessible, free of charge

When can I access the service

Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am up to 5:00 pm.

Time limit to access this service? Or once a request is made or an application is submitted, how long will it take?

No limit for access.

No loan for books.

Is there a complaint procedure?

Complaints or more inquiries can be addressed to the following email address info@museum.gov.rw Or call: (+250) 730741093 / 738742026

Is there any additional information regarding this service that is useful to know?

Always visit our website: www.museum.gov.rw for information.

Ethnographic Museum - Gardens with photos: 150.000Frw - Exclusive occupation of the gardens: 300,000Frw - Hands – on experience in traditional skills: 150.000Frw per day.

- Other ceremony: *1 to 50 people: 50,000rwf , * 50- above: 250,000rwf King’s Palace Museum - Gardens, tents, chairs & photos: 200.000 rwf - Gardens only: 100.000 rwf – Gardens & chairs: 170,000rwf - Inyambo parading: 50,000 rwf National Art Gallery.

- Gardens only: 50,000 rwf - All-inclusive with gardens: 100,000 rwf

Type of service: Hiring for wedding and other ceremonies What service am I eligible for?

Kandt House Museum - Terrace 200,000 rwf

Wedding and other ceremonies, photography, documentaries, filming in Museum premises.

Department to be approached

All Museum branches mentioned above.

When can I access the service

Saturday and Sunday, from 7:30 am up to 5:30 pm.

Time limit to access after request

Immediately, after paying requested fees.

Visiting all current permanent and temporary exhibitions of the museums.

Presidential Palace Museum - Gardens, tents, chairs & photos: 400,000 rwf - Other ceremonies: * 1 to 50 people: 50,000 rwf - * 50 – above: 400,000 rwf Museum of Environment - Gardens: 150,000 rwf - Conference hall: 200,000Frw - Other Ceremonies: * 1 to50 people: 40,000 rwf - *50- above: 200,000 rwf National Liberation Museum Park - Visit to H.E Paul Kagame’s former bunker: 10,000Frw Training the Youth in traditional handcrafts

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What’s service am I eligible?

Providing techniques related to traditional handcrafts: weaving, iron casting, ceramic, beading, postcards.

Department to be approached

Ethnographic Museum in Huye District.

When can I access the service

Starting in January each year. The program is extended to one year (corresponding on academic calendar).

Time limit to access this service? Or once a request is made or an application is submitted, how long will it take?

The program is extended to one year (corresponding on academic calendar). | 29

Opinion|

|Opinion

WHY RWANDAN DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS OUGHT TO PRIOTIZE CULTURE “A call for more critical mass”!!

By David Nkusi Very often, time and again, we have seen and witnessed a number of macro-economic policies in Rwanda yielding less significant development outcomes than what our Economists and Development Experts in the Ministry of finance predict. Not surprisingly however, such should be, the destiny of policies and later alone projects

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designed stringently within the realms of western modernization.

Rwanda being a land locked country that partially depends on western aid, its development strategies relies, to a considerable magnitude, in the importation of western modernization, in form Western technology, techniques, practices, and organizational and management methods, for application in almost all sectors of the national

economy. Nevertheless, Rwanda has, in the last decade, pulled off a rare “hat trick” of rapid growth, by any measure: Gross Domestic Product has consistently grown, inflation has been reduced to single digit and National Savings have increased consistently.

As a way of improving the wellbeing of Rwandans, the government has invested heavily in infrastructure; electricity connections increased, classified national road network in good condition, access to clean water increased, and poverty reduced, the ICT stance also making larger strides in the economy.

My greater appeal is that; meaningful development with intrinsic value cannot be explained only in terms of numbers but the totality of a people’s way of life as deduced from material and non-material aspects of their life such as clothing, values, beliefs, thoughts, feelings and customs. Vision 2020, a living document that outlines ambitious plans for Rwanda recognizes “culture” but little attention is given on how culture can be used as a recipe in transforming Rwanda’s economy and livelihood of its people. Here is one of the excerpts from the vision 2020 document on culture: “Rwanda will become a modern, united and prosperous nation founded on the positive values of its culture...”

their life goals; moulds their notion of what constitutes the good life and the type of society they construct to achieve it; shapes the institutions they create to sustain that society and influences their choice of solutions for the problems that confront it.

Cultural sector in Rwanda has been growing to the point that it now includes the cultural industries (museums and sites), albeit it has not set aside the manifestations that exist in the verge of mass and traditional production. Regardless if cultural activities are part or not part of the market, they have economic dimensions because they presuppose the use of resources as any other economic activity. In Rwanda, some of the activities related to culture generate, additionally, an analogous economic impact to the one produced by other sectors of the economy. Specifically, culture is, besides an indispensable element for social cohesion and the reconstruction of Developments an identity, an economic sector equally or even more important than any other productive sector of society.

It goes without saying that the economic transactions that take place in the deepest heart of culture generate positive economic outcomes such as learning and knowledge.

Granted! Culture is dynamic and sometimes transformative, some cultural scholars have gone overboard to hypothesize that “all successful models of development are essentially cultural.”

Cultural industries play a lead part in the scope of development. In his book, Culture and human development: relations who move, German Rey (2000) stated that “cultural industries participate in both the construction of social identities and in promoting a fabric of symbolic production and cultural appropriation. In that fabric, development itself is depicted, the drama of modernization is staged, and aspirations and collective demands of broad segments of society are mobilized.”

These scholars are inspired by a worldview which reflects a people’s hopes and aspirations, determines

Therefore, cultural industries are an integral part of development through their contribution to the

in Rwanda must update its role in two folds: first, it must broaden its vision of culture so that policy covers and fully acknowledges the forms of cultural expression channelled through cultural industries but taking into account of activities that are still away from the margins of commercial culture.

Secondly, the state must take account of all players in the cultural industry value chain in the process of designing and formulating sector policies, as it is such players who may generate assessments of the major problems they face. The specialists of different cultural manifestations fields should make sure that investment in content innovation is not absent of any governmental programs.

economy, employment, and material welfare. To stitch together culture and development in a Rwandan context, one should start by addressing the ugly trend that makes western countries inventors of cultural and technological initiatives that are ultimately consumed by Rwanda. A major step in addressing the issue of a Rwandan cultural policy is commissioning professionals in the area of conservation of our heritage to present an inventory of our works of art, art forms, folk history or oral tradition and practices.

More outstandingly, our cultural policy must change, and soon, before things fall apart and issues reach beyond repair. Cultural policy

New mechanisms and negotiating arguments by Ministry of Sports and Culture for obtaining budgetary resources must be available which, on one hand, should keep with the economic contribution made by the sector and, on the other, meet at least two key objectives: subsidization and co-financing of all cultural activities that are not marketable and do not generate economic benefits, but do generate social benefits and to promote industrial processes of undeniable importance for the country’s economic and cultural development.

By and large, our culture should be embedded in the holistic macroeconomic policy framework; from taxation to industrialization policies, and from finance to insurance policies. Like anywhere else, in developed countries, it is prudent that our planners start underscoring Rwandan culture as a stimulus to our economic growth, employment and development.

David NKUSI, the author is the Heritage Sites Manager at INMR dnkusi@museum.gov.rw +250 730 741 126 | 31

Education|

|Museums

Museum in

schools

By: Faustin Nsengiyumva Museum in schools is an outreach program which takes cultural and natural heritage indoor activities from INMR to respective schools. During this period, the outreach team visits schools and, alongside with itinerant exhibitions to discuss museums’ activities and Rwanda’s heritage in general to respective schools with their students and teachers at large.

During the visit, the team explains all about museums, their exhibitions and other activities as well as their importance in preserving and conserving the national heritage.

In addition, local communities surrounding the schools are invited to come and learn about these pertinent programs organized in schools.

This becomes advantageous to both Rwanda Museums and the host schools in meeting

32|

a large number of people gathered in one place.

This increases the knowledge of people about their history and culture especially the youth as they get to know, interact and experience ancient and traditional materials used many years ago, and they get entertained as well.

In March 2018, the INMR outreach team visited six schools located in the Northern Province from 7 to 9 March

2018. Four schools located in Musanze district namely: Ecole Secondaire St. Vincent Muhoza, Lycée de Ruhengeri (APICUR), Sonrise High School and ESSA Ruhengeri were visited. From 16 to 17 March 2018, two schools in Gicumbi District were visited including E.S. Mulindi and E.S. Mukono.

More than 2,758 students from all these schools attended this program and learned a lot about the cultural and natural Rwandan heritage in general, Museums in particular.

Local artists exhibit at museum given space

to

By Eudoxie Alice Following requests from Rwandan artists for space to work, exhibit and sale their artworks, the Rwanda Art Museum in Kanombe, the only contemporary art museum provided a solution to the artists.

The Rwanda Art Museum opened in May 2018 from a Presidential Palace Museum to provide a permanent exhibition. Inside the museum walls,

one is welcomed by about 127 artworks produced by 51 different artists. The pieces range from sculptures, paintings, to mixed media and ceramics.

apart from the artists exhibits, the place provides inspiration, a place for exchange of experience between local and international artists. A space for “Temporary exhibitions” is also available where collections/ artworks with specific theme can be exhibited for a short period of time.

The first temporary exhibition dubbed, “Products in Dialogue” that was launched on November 23, 2018 featured both designers from Rwanda and Rhineland Palatinate.

This experience lasted for three months and thereafter transferred to Germany for exhibition.

“This exhibition is the first among several business opportunities that are yet to come, for local designers and artists,” underlined Amb. Robert Masozera, Director General of INMR. The exhibition was inspired by excellent relations between the two countries, telling of life and struggles of the designers in the two countries.

Another part of the Museum has a gift shop, considered to be a meeting place for various forms of artworks on sell by Rwanda Art Council members.

Other artists with no artworks here are also encouraged to The collections exhibited seize the opportunity to have at Rwanda Art Museum are their own artworks displayed divided into different parts and here.

Entitled “Art for peace” this exhibition area still has space will expand the number of artworks every year and add other art related activities.

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INMR|

|Tradition

y’Umwami ahari inka z’inyambo n’abatahira.

Gusura Ingoro z’Igihugu z’Umurage w’u Rwanda byamwongereye ubumenyi mu nganzo y’amahamba n’amazina y’inka

By MUGWANEZA Jean Paul Usenga Heritier avuga ko gusura Ingoro z’Igihugu z’Umurage w’u Rwanda byamwongereye ubumenyi mu nganzo ye y’amahamba n’amazina y’inka.

Usenga umwana ufite imyaka 16, yamenyekanye ubwo yavugaga amazina y’inka n’amahamba mu gusoza icyumweru cyo gushishikariza abantu umuco wo gusoma no kwandika mu karere ka Rubavu.

Kubera ubu buhanga bwatangaje benshi bitewe n’imyaka ye, Usenga yaje kwemererwa n’umuyobozi w’Ingoro z’Igihugu z’Umurage w’u Rwanda, Amb. Robert Masozera kuzamushyigikira mu rwego rwo kumufasha kuzamura impano agasura Ingoro z’Umurage w’u Rwanda, by’umwihariko Ingoro 34|

Ubwo yasuraga ingoro y’Umwami iherereye mu karere ka Nyanza mu Rukari, yabonye umwanya uhagije wo guhura n’abatahira b’Inyambo maze bamwungura inama zijyanye n’uko yakwiyungura ubumenyi bityo impano ye ikaguka.

Nyuma yo kumurikirwa inka z’inyambo, Usenga yadutangarije ko bimushimishije kubona inka z’inyambo kuko ari ku nshuro ya mbere azibonye.

Yanatubwiye kandi ko inama abatahira bamwunguye zizamufasha kwaguka mu mikorere n’imitekerereze. Uretse kandi Ingoro y’umwami, Usenga yanasuye Ingoro y’Ubuhanzi n’Ubugeni iherereye iNyanza, n’Ingoro y’Amateka n’Imibereho y’Abanyarwanda iherereye mu karere ka Huye.

Nyuma yo gusura izi ngoro zitandukanye no kugirana ibiganiro n’umuyobozi w’Ingoro z’Igihugu z’Umurage w’ u Rwanda, Usenga yashimiye uyu muyobozi wamuhaye aya mahirwe, amwizeza ko ibyo yigiye mu ngoro z’Umurage bigiye kumufasha gutera imbere kandi ko atazabipfusha ubusa.

Ubwo hasozwaga igikorwa cyari kigamije kwigisha umuco nyarwanda abantu batandukanye cyane cyane urubyiruko igikorwa cyiswe “Twige kandi tumenye umuco wacu”, Uyu mwana yataramiye abantu mu nganzo ye

y’amazina y’inka n’amahamba bishimisha benshi kubona umwana ukibyiruka ashishikarira inganzo y’abakuze.

Abajijwe aho akomora iyi mpano, Usenga yavuze ko ubumenyi afite abukura mu bitabo asoma n’ibindi yigira ku bandi batahira n’abisi barimo n’umuvandimwe we. Uyu mwana ngo iteka akunda kuba aganira n’abantu bakuze, ibintu kenshi ngo atumva kimwe n’urubyiruko rugenzi rwe kuko adakunda kuba mu bigare by’urubyiruko.

Mu mbogamizi uyu mwana ngo ahura nazo, harimo nko kubura aho akura ibitabo bivuga mu buryo bwimbitse ku mazina y’inka kuko ibyo asoma ari ibisanzwe.

Ikindi nanone ngo kimubangamira ni ukudahura n’abisi n’abatahira batandukanye ngo bungurane ibitekerezo abe yabigiraho akaba rimwe na rimwe yitabaza urubuga rwa murandasi (Youtube) kenshi akaba abura itumanaho ribimushamo.

Amazina y’inka ni ubuhanga bugize igice cy’ubuvanganzo nyarwanda bukaba bwari umwihariko w’imiryango kandi bukagirwa n’abantu bakuru, bukarata ibigwi by’umutwe w’inka n’akamaro inka zifitiye abantu muri rusange. Ubu buhanga bwagiye bukendera busigaranwa n’abantu bake akenshi bukaba busigaye bugaragara mu mihango y’ubukwe nyarwanda.

| 35

inmr|

|Museums

TANZANIA

UGANDA

DR.CONGO

36|

BURUNDI

| 37

s locations

National Art Gallery Kigali Genocide Memorial

rwanda museums locations rwanda museums locations

Museums|

Rwanda Art Museum 3.9 (187) · Historical place museum Rwanda Art Museum

Kigali 3.9 (187) · Historical place museum Kigali presidential house with exhibits on Former Rwandan history & debris aexhibits noted plane Former presidential housefrom with on rwanda museums crash.

Rwandan history & debris from a noted plane crash.

King's Palace Museum Rwanda Art Museum King's Palace Museum 4.5 (132) 3.9 (187)··Museum Historical place museum 4.5 Kigali

(132) · Museum

Former presidential house with exhibits on Rwandan history & debris from a noted plane crash.

Ethnographic Museum Museum King's Palace Museum ofEthnographic Rwanda - BUTARE of Rwanda - (239) BUTARE 4.5 (132)··Museum Museum 4.4

4.4 (239) · Museum Butare Butare Museum halls with displays on Rwandan history, Museum halls with on Rwandan history, traditions, culture & displays anthropology. traditions, culture & anthropology.

4.3 4.6 Nyanza Kigali

(4) · Museum (1,519) · Museum

This tribute to victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide includes exhibits, graves & a garden.

Kandt House Museum National Art Gallery 4.1 4.3 Kigali Nyanza

(73) Museum (4) · ·Museum

locations

Museum of Environment Kandt House Museum

4.5 (28) 4.1 (73) · Museum Kibuye Kigali Museum with exhibits on renewable & nonrenewable energy & an herbal-medicine garden on the roof.

Museum of Environment Institute of National 4.5 (28) · Museum Museums of Rwanda Kibuye

No reviews · Educational Institution Museum with exhibits on renewable & nonKigali renewable energy & an herbal-medicine garden on the roof.

Ethnographic Museum Kigali Genocide Memorial Kigali Genocide Memorial of Rwanda - (1,519) BUTARE 4.6 · Museum

Kandt House Institute of National 4.0 (29) · Museum Museums of Rwanda

National Art National ArtGallery Gallery Kigali Genocide Memorial

Kandt House Ntarama Genocide Memorial 4.0 (29) · Museum

4.6 (1,519) · Museum 4.4 (239) · Museum Kigali Kigali Butare This tribute to victims of the 1994 Rwandan This tribute to victims of the on 1994 Rwandan Museum halls withexhibits, displays Rwandan history, genocide includes graves & a garden. genocide graves & a garden. traditions,includes culture &exhibits, anthropology.

4.3 4.3 4.6 Nyanza Nyanza Kigali

(4) ··Museum (4) Museum (1,519) · Museum

This tribute to victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide includes exhibits, graves & a garden.

Museum for campaign against Genecide Kandt House Museum

Kandt House Museum National Art Gallery

4.1 4.1 4.3 Kigali Kigali Nyanza

(73) Museum (73) Museum (4) ···Museum

|Museums

Kigali No reviews · Educational Institution Open Kigali now Museum named after a German explorer & focusing on the natural history of Rwanda.

4.5 (34) · Museum Kigali Open now Museum named after a German explorer & focusing on the natural history of Rwanda.

National Ntarama Liberation Genocide Memorial 4.5 (34) · Museum Museum Park/Mulindi 4.4 Byumba

(5) · Museum

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Museum of Museum ofEnvironment Environment Kandt House Museum 4.5 4.5 4.1 Kibuye Kibuye Kigali

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Museum of Environment Institute ofNational National Institute of 4.5 (28) · Museum Museums ofRwanda Rwanda Museums of Kibuye

Noreviews reviews· ·Educational EducationalInstitution Institution No Museum with exhibits on renewable & nonKigali Kigali renewable energy & an herbal-medicine garden on the roof.

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Kigali No reviews · Educational Institution Kigali Open now Kigalinow Open Museum named after a German explorer & Museum named after a German explorer & focusing on the natural history of Rwanda. focusing on the natural history of Rwanda.

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inmr|

The Campaign Against Genocide Museum (CAG) is

located in the Parliamentary building, in Kigali just 800 meters behind conventional center road point, and just 4.9km, 9 minutes’ drive from Kanombe Airport.

The museum was officially inaugurated H.E Paul Kagame on December 13, 2017.

A publication of Institute of National Museums of Rwanda 40|

Produced by Intiti magazine