Top Cultural encounters, a unique activity in Rwanda.

 When one talks about Rwanda, what comes to many people’s minds is gorilla trekking and sighting other primates in the natural wilderness.  This is true, Rwanda is one of the African countries where tourists frequent primate trekking safaris, particularly the gorillas and golden monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park. However, it has more to offer for adventure lovers. Rwanda is a high quality destination for different tourism like mountain hiking, game drives, guided nature walks, boat cruises on water bodies, and cultural tours among others.

 Rwanda is a country that has maintained its cultural practices and values for generations through moral behavior, dress code, language, and cultural ceremonies.

 Before the 1994 genocide, the three major tribes in the country lived as one. The Hutu were pastoralists, the Hutu were cultivators, and the Twa were hunters and food gatherers, but with the coming of the German colonialists, they influenced the Hutu and made them feel superior to the extent of killing their innocent brothers, sisters, and friends (the Tutsi).  The genocide led many people to seek refuge in the neighbouring countries which later led to intermarriages hence mixed cultures.

In a bid to revive the Rwandan culture and values after the genocide era, the Rwandan government and natives interested in culture have set up different sites that act as reminders of culture, behavior, and events. These places are currently important tourist attractions that one should not miss on your Rwanda safari. Some of these places include

 National History Museum (Kandt House Museum)

 This is one of the most important historical and cultural Museums in Rwanda housed in Kigali city.  It was named after Dr Richard Kandt, the first Governor of Rwanda during colonial rule.

 The museum houses artwork and documentation about Rwanda’s ecological systems in the national parks. It is divided into three sections. The first section exhibits  Rwandan life before colonial rule in social, political, and economic aspects. It further displays exotic creatures like colourful birds and animals. The second section has an explanation of Rwanda during the colonial rule.  It is this section that provides detailed documentation of the nature of German colonialism and the life and actions of Richard Kandt.

 The third section has information about Rwanda after colonial times, how Kigali was designated Capital in 1962, and maps illustrating several gems and mineral resources.  While at the Museum, expect to enjoy the stunning views of Kigali city and the surrounding areas.

 Kigali Genocide Memorial

 This is one of the most visited places in Kigali, especially for tourists on a city tour.  It was constructed to commemorate the lives of the over 250,000 innocent people who were killed during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. This place has three sections, one for children, the second one for adults, and the third section provides information about other genocides in other parts of the world.  This memorial site exhibits photos and information about the victims, how they were killed, the tools used to kill them, their clothes, and some of their remains (skulls and bones).

At the back of the memorial hall, there are three massive graves where the bodies were laid to rest as a cultural practice of honouring and respecting the deceased.

Other cultural genocide memorial sites in Rwanda include Murambi Genocide Memorial, Ntarama Genocide Memorial, Nyamata Genocide Memorial site, Nyanza Genocide Memorial, Bisesero Genocide  Memorial, and Nyarubuye Genocide  Memorial site

 All these memorial sites are cultural places for remembrance and learning about the dedicated victims and offer a powerful experience for visitors to promote reconciliation and peace.

The Presidential Palace Museum

 This museum is the best place for those who want information about the spark of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. Before it was turned into a museum, this place was the state house for the former Rwanda President Juvenal Habyarimana.  When information reached the Hutus that their fellow Hutu, more so the president had died in a plane crash on 6th April 1994, the Hutu die-hards launched a genocide where they killed their brothers and sisters (the Tutsi) without discriminating whether young or old. Over 800,000 people lost their lives in this tragic incident.

 At this place, the resident guide will take you all over the place, showing you the president’s secret rooms and nightclub, and showing you the discarded parts of the plane in the compound.

Maintaining the status of this place is one way of promoting Rwandan History and culture for the present and future generations.

Cultural festivals

Cultural festivals are events that bring people together for the common good. Some of these social events include

Kwita izina: this is a gorilla naming ceremony conducted in Volcanoes National Park. This is a social event that unites people from around the world to cherish the conservation efforts and protection of mountain gorillas. The Kwita Izina ceremony is headed by a week of educational workshops, community projects, conservation exhibitions, and performances by local artists. The ceremony marks the summit of the week where conservationists, government officials, and members of the local community converge to name the baby gorillas and promote the awareness and importance of protecting these amazing creatures.

Umuganda:  This is another social event that brings people together for general cleaning.  This event comes every last Saturday of the month.  On this day, everyone in Rwanda, whether native or visitor, everyone is expected to participate fully in the general cleaning of the whole country, starting at 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.  During this time no vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians are moving. Everyone must be seriously at work busy cleaning the streets, and other public places. This event has helped to create the togetherness of the Rwandans which has led to the social and economic development of the country.

Umuwibuka: This is another event organized in April every year to commemorate the lives of those who died in the Rwandan genocide of 1994. It is celebrated in almost every country in the world so you do not have to be in Rwanda.  For those outside Rwanda should visit the Rwanda Embassy in those countries for the best information.

The Gorilla Guardians Village

This place is referred to as the “Ib’yiwachu Cultural Center”. It is found in Musanze close to the Volcanoes National Park. This is one of the places where one can have his / her mind-set and relax after the hustle of gorilla or golden monkey trekking. at this place expect the best cultural performances from the Twa People who were poachers but were later brought together as one village and taught how to abandon poaching and turn to nature conservationists.

 At this place, enjoy listening to Rwandan traditional folk songs, watching the dancers, learn preparing  Kinyarwanda dishes, visiting the herbal medicine man, gaining knowledge of Rwandan traditional marriage, and getting a chance to dress like a Rwandan King or Queen in a grass thatched palace.  This place reflects the setting of a Rwandan village.

Nyanza King’s palace and museum

This is another interesting palace located 88 km from Kigali.  This place was the residence to the cultural head of the Rwandans (Hutu and Tutsi). The palace is a structure crafted in the shape of a bee hive and traditionally was a site for battles and struggles. This palace is one of the excellently designed ethnographic collections. When Rwanda was still a monarchy the king in this palace owned many long-horned cattle. When colonialists and the genocide decimated the kingdom, the palace’s precious instruments, cattle, and other traditional materials were stolen. However, today with the government’s effort to revamp culture and other traditional practices, new structures have been set up and decorated culturally. Inyambo cattle were restored to the palace for tourism purposes.

 Ryamurari archaeological site

 It is a popular archaeological site in the Great Lakes Region. It is found in Bufunda village, Nyagatare district, on top of a hill called Mukama. The site was originally the capital of the Ndorwa kingdom before it became part of Rwanda.

The site exhibits historical data on the fossils of different creatures that were found in this place. The fossils include cattle bones, cow dung, and grinding stones. All these findings depict that the early occupants of the area were cattle keepers and agriculturalists.  Tourists to this site see and feel the beauty of the ancient amazing structures.

Urutare Rwa Ngarama

This is a beautiful historical site in the Gatsibo district of Rwanda.  This site is a rock comprising of several footprints as features that are said to have been fixed by Ruganzu who was the leader of the area by was then.  This magical rock is said to echo when hit with a stone or metal because it’s alleged that Ruganzu placed magical features in the rock.  When you get a chance to visit this site, you will enjoy the amazing history of Rwanda as compared to the present situation. Other sites closely related to this site include Makwaza Hill and Utubindi twa Rubona.

Banda Cultural Village

 This is an interesting cultural center close to Uwinka, Nyungwe Park headquarters. It is an inspiring place, best to visit for relaxation after the chimpanzee trekking in the park. At this place, you will have a true immersion into Rwandan culture as you will be welcomed by beautiful cultural performances like songs and dances. Learn how the locals conduct their daily lives, you can take a village tour with the help of a local guide, you can also engage in their local activities like basket making, meal preparation, banana beer brewing, and the good performances of their traditional marriage practices that reflect the ancient style of family formation.

Kitabi Cultural Center

This is another cultural attraction close to Nyungwe Forest National Park.  This cultural center is located next to the park entrance. It was built by the last King of Rwanda as his palace. Currently, the cultural center is part of the Kitabi Eco Center. The Eco Center is a beautiful accommodation close to the park offering the best accommodation to clients who wish to carry out some activities in the park. While at this place, I get an exceptional experience of sleeping like a King or Queen in the palace on a comfortable bed.  The Queen Bed can even accommodate a family or a group of three people who wish to stay together.

The cultural center has several huts designed traditionally to reflect Rwandan culture. In the place is a group of women making handcrafts which you can buy as souvenirs on your safari.

 Bugesera Reconciliation Village

 After the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, many people were left homeless, with a lot of silence and hatred against those who had murdered their loved ones. They knew some of these people and some of them were too eager to revenge. However, as a way of putting things right, the government of Rwanda made all efforts to encourage forgiveness, unity, and reconciliation. Starting Bugesera Reconciliation Village was one of the steps taken.  In this place, survivors, murderers, returnees and other vulnerable families were brought together as a path to reconciliation.

On a visit to this village, listen to the victims and perpetrators discuss their experiences and emotions. Have active participation in a variety of activities like agriculture where you will interact with the residents, meet the groups of women dealing in weaving and cookery, if possible, make a simple get-together party as a way of promoting social interaction.

Ethnographic Museum

 This museum is a gift from the Belgium government. The Ethnographic Museum has one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections.

 It has seven galleries that display historical, ethnographic, artistic, and archaeological artifacts accompanied by visual aides, giving visitors a good perception of Rwandan culture.

The museum displays both geological and geographical items used in agriculture, pottery, hunting, woodwork, and weaving. It also has sections of documentary as poetry, history, culture, traditional customs, and beliefs.

 The Intore drummers and dancers will give you a warm reception.

 Other museums include

National Liberation Museum, locally known as “Umurindi w’Intwari”- provides information about the historical efforts and struggles of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) to stop the 1994 genocide. The information is exhibited through texts, videos, artifacts, and documentaries like the Arusha Agreement.

Campaign Against Genocide Museum: it helps to educate visitors about the role played by Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), which was led by President Paul Kagame, in a bid to stop the genocide.

On a visit to this museum, you find some of the guns used in the war by  RPF and the government forces