Rwanda’s Rich Culture
Rwanda’s Rich Culture: Rwanda is one of those countries in Africa that embraces the heritage of its unique culture and traditions. Although the country is famous for gorilla trekking safaris, it is rich in traditional norms and values as a way of upholding their unique culture and identity. This is because culture is one of the unifying factors that plays an instrumental role in showcasing the country’s identity, which people always share in common.
People share a lot in terms of culture, norms, traditions, and values, making them unique not only to Rwanda, but other countries as a way of boasting and promoting their exceptional cultural norms and traditional practices, music, attires, dances, and other cultural performances. In Rwanda, the element of music, dance, and traditional practices acts as the key unifying factor, and this is vividly witnessed on events, ceremonies, festivals, story telling or during social gatherings, among others.
Rwanda’s Rich Culture: During cultural encounters and experiences, there are several dances that are performed to entertain visitors on several events and these include Ikinimba dance, Ibihozo, Intore dance, and Umushanyayo dance among others. This is one of the factors that enable Rwanda as one of the leading and celebrated cultural safari destinations in Africa, especially with the Intore dance being the most popular and referred to by many visitors as the only unique dance to Rwanda.
Travellers visiting Rwanda for either mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking or Golden Monkey trekking, the Intore dance is hardly missed. This is because the Intore dance is the leading and most popular traditional dance in the country, and is mainly performed in 3 styles to bring out its unique composition and elegance. The ballet is always performed by ladies/women, followed by heroes performed by men, and drums come last, making it the most established dance traditionally in Rwanda than others.
What makes Rwanda’s culture Unique
Intore Dance
During Rwanda safaris, visitors are always entertained with unique live dances depicting the true Rwanda’s cultural identity. This famous and unique cultural dance cuts across different places of entertainment such as museums, cultural villages, festivals, ceremonies, and around several accommodation facilities established in different parts of the country, especially near protected areas like national parks.
Ikinimba- Rwanda’s Rich Culture
This stands out as one of the premier respected musical traditions in Rwanda. What makes this dance exceptional is the message portrayed with stories of heroes and kings of Rwanda and freedom fighters and warriors as well. Similar to other traditional dances in Rwanda, Ikinimba dance is also performed, supported by unique Rwandan musical instruments such as Inanga, Ingoma, Umuduri Iningiri, and Ikembe among others.
Umushayayo dance
This is a unique and popular traditional dance popularly performed by women. This dance signifies the beautiful, graceful movement of various animal species, which graces the country’s heritage as well. Other unique dances in Rwanda include the popular marital dance known as Ukurambagiza / courtship dance, which is performed by both Males and Females during courtship among fiancés.
Distinctive features that make Rwanda’s traditional dances unique
Rwanda’s traditional dance is classified as unique from other African dances/ music mainly because of its art and rhythm. Before playing this traditional music, family members always converge as a company to what is commonly known as Igitaramo. By so doing, they sing, dance, and boast about the day’s accomplishments.
Umushayayo dance- Rwanda’s Rich Culture
During the dancing session, other members always clap their hands to boast and add rhythm as they cheer these dances with a lot of encouragement. This clapping is generally done by different people, including male vocalists and females who cheer up and support these dancers with flowing choruses. In conclusion, a local drink, particularly a local beer, is served to seal the day in style.
Music and cultural dance or practices in Rwanda always move together, which makes it one of the special expressions that Rwanda’s culture special. When dancing, it’s always a collective effort from different members. However, the difference is always experienced between ordinary dances and warlike dances, whereby ordinary dances usually occur during family circles and festivals. However, what you have to understand is that the most traditional type of dance and music performed in the country is mainly Ikinimba, a dance that always reflects the stories of heroes, kings, and warriors.
The warlike dance exhibits almost similar movements to those of actual fighting and this is commonly referred to as Imyiyereko parade. Here, the dancers follow similar warfare movements, charging at each other like enemies. However, other traditional dances that are considered to be more spectacular in Rwanda include the “Umuhamirizo” dance, among others which show case the Rwanda’s Rich culture.
