Focus Media (Kigali)
Timothy Kisambira
30 November 2008
Contrary to some other cultures, young people in Rwanda are not turning their back on the tradition. Yet their reasons for sticking to it are quite varied.
"Many people have a lot of problems, and they are worrying all the time. But when they see people dancing, they become happy and excited, and end up forgetting all their troubles."
For 17-year old Claudette Murerwa, this was the main reason she got involved in traditional dancing. She was also inspired by her mother. Today, she is part of the Abadacogora cultural group from Collège de Matare in Rusizi.
For some of the boys in the group, the attraction of dancing is slightly more down-to-earth: they like the Intore attire. The white lion manes, the spear and the shield for protection, all are part of what it is to be Rwandan. When you are approaching a lion, you have to be determined, they explain, but also well protected; so the essence of dancing with the spear and the shield is to show that Rwandans are determined in everything they do and also know to protect themselves.
Pierre Ndagijimana concurs that traditional dancing is all about expressing your culture. "I love dancing because it helps me keep in touch with my culture. Rwandan culture is different from others, I think it is more decent. For example, the way we dress for dancing, it is good; we are not like other dancers who think that to impress people you have to show off your body," he says.
However, the 18-year old student in senior three in Matare secondary school who was inspired by his grandfather and began dancing himself in 2000, also thinks that it has a social value. Pierre explains that many of the songs they dance to deal with reconciliation, unity and AIDS.
"We are young, so we feel that it is our responsibility to keep this nation alive, and to advise our young brothers and sisters to be cautious about their lives and the killer disease-because if we all die at this age, then what will the next generation look like?"
"As for reconciliation, I think we should forget about the past and unite so that our country can move forward," he adds.
Divine inspiration?
One of Pierre's co-dancers, Jean Bosco Karangwa, 18 and in senior one, looks at the lighter side of dancing-he loves it because this is the only way he can entertain people. Strangely enough, his career started through some kind of divine inspiration-a Catholic Bishop in Rusizi called Jean Damascene Bimenyimana, who created a cultural troupe.
"We respected him very much, he always encouraged us to dance saying that this was the only way not to forget our culture," Jean Bosco says.
It is also in his genes, though, given that he hails from a family of dancers and poets. Small wonder then, that he aims for the highest. "My dream is to become a member of the National Cultural Troup one day," he says.
For some, such as 18-year old Donathe Mwiza, traditional dancing is nearly an addiction.
"I liked dancing since I was young. I remember, when in was in primary school, I spent a lot of time practicing; I didn't care about the books, I just wanted to dance! You could even ask me what they had taught me in class and I would not be able to tell," she laughs.
Dancing didn't really run in her family, yet she is grateful to her parents. "They discovered that I was a dancer, and have always encouraged me to indulge in it," Donathe says.
Now that she is in senior three, she is glad that her school also reserves time for dancing. "We have a specific time for dancing, which is part of the school time table. So I am relieved, because I can now concentrate in class, knowing that we will also have an opportunity to dance," she says.
Donathe is a great admirer of Cecile Kayirebwa's, whom she labels one of the greatest Rwandan traditional singers and dancers. As to whether she wants to follow in her idol's footstep, all options are open. "The sky is the limit."
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Focus Media. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
