Traditional music and dance
In Rwanda, music and traditional dances are inseparable. Thus, the best representatives of the discipline in the country are the Intore dancers. Created several centuries ago, the Intore troupe used to perform at court. Intore literally means "the chosen ones" because its members were selected among the children of noble families. A fantastic concentrate of Rwandan culture, these Intore dances are also renowned for their majesty. Regulated and precise like the best ballets in the world, their choreography seems paradoxically free and spontaneous and evokes in the jumps, the bulging chests and the fists clenched on the bows and spears, the epic fights of the past. Between the bare feet pounding the ground, the beating of the long white hair headdresses and the tension of the drums, the show is as unique as it is unforgettable.
Another musical and choreographic tradition in Rwanda, the Ikinimba is a dance about Rwandan heroes and illustrious characters, accompanied by traditional instruments. It is performed by young unmarried women and men, and is part of the courtship ritual. Once married, women can no longer participate in the dance, unlike men.
Another great Rwandan specificity is that traditional music and dance are taught in the amatorero(itorero in the singular), dance groups scattered throughout the country. The most famous of these is the Urukerereza National Ballet which, since the early 1970s, has been selecting the country's best dancers to perform at all official events and to represent Rwanda at international events.
Apart from the famous drum - the ingoma, which used to precede official announcements - Rwanda is rich in a variety of traditional instruments: the shield-shaped zither(inanga), still very popular in the hills, the lobelia flute(umwirongi), the trumpets(amakondera), the old monochord of Ugandan origin(iningiri ) and introduced in the 1930s, the musical bow(umuduri), the idiophones(ikembe), the calabash rattle(ikinyuguri), played during divinatory rites, the bells attached to the dancers' ankles(amayugi), or the lulunga, an eight-stringed instrument similar to a harp, which is used to accompany songs and dances. There are also flutes made of reed. As for the drums, they each produce a different sound, depending on their size. Although there are no orchestras as such, drummers often form groups. Most ceremonial dances are accompanied by an orchestra of seven to nine drums that produce an explosion of rhythms.
If there is a queen of traditional Rwandan music, it is Cecile Kayirebwa. She comes from a long line of artists, dancers, poets, storytellers and singers, and has continued to deepen her knowledge of traditional Rwandan culture throughout her career to become one of its most famous ambassadors in the world and an icon for all generations of local artists.
An excellent address in the capital for a traditional music and dance performance is theInema Arts Centerin Kacyiru. Founded in 2012 by two painter brothers, the center offers space for a dozen artists-in-residence who explore new avenues in different disciplines and offers quite a few folklore-related events. Otherwise, it is often hotels that program dance performances such as theHotel des Mille Collines in Kigali or Red Rocks, located outside of Ruhengeri.
Current Music
The genocide naturally had consequences on the musical production in Rwanda. But since the beginning of the 2000s, music has gradually returned to the country under the impetus of Rwandan youth and new stars have appeared. This is notably the case of Josiane Uwineza, better known as Miss Jojo, author of a committed R&B, rich in political subjects (conditions of women, AIDS, drugs, etc.). Beniwe, whose real name is Ben Kayiranga, finds his inspiration in traditional culture, such as the polyphonic songs of the Batwa. Originally from Gisenyi in Rwanda, he left his native land with his family at the age of 17 to settle in France. He now resides in Orsay in the Ile-de-France region. A more recent success, Kamichi (born Adolphe Bagabo) is an increasingly popular Afrobeats and R&B artist recognizable by his husky voice. These artists all share the influence of the legend Jean-Paul Samputu, a pillar of Rwandan music and one of the most popular African artists in the world.
Also, in recent years, contemporary Rwandan music has evolved and many artists have undertaken to create a bridge between past and present. A new wave where the young creation knits something new around its musical tradition and questions the Rwandan identity. The rising star Teta Diana is undoubtedly the proudest representative of this new scene with her fusion of folk, jazz and afro-pop music and her magnificent tone. Also worth mentioning are The Good Ones, an afro-folk trio with one member from each of the three tribes - Hutu, Tutsi and Abatwa - singing in Kinyarwanda, Munyakazi Deo, a young inanga prodigy who wants to bring the instrument to the younger generation by marrying it with modern music (mainly hip-hop and R&B), and Ineza Kerschkamp, a Belgian artist whose mix of jazz and soul touches on her Rwandan roots.
For anyone visiting Rwanda in early August, a great idea is to check out the newly launched Hill Festival, the first festival of its kind in Rwanda, which features hip-hop and reggae music as well as traditional music and dance. Artists perform at the Canal Olympia in Rebero. Otherwise, in Kigali, it is always good to stroll around Nyamirambo on weekends. This district, an open-air temple of music, is an obligatory place of passage for all Rwandan music stars - or those who dream of becoming one - and therefore a concentrate of the current musical production in Rwanda. Of course, the capital has its share of good venues such as L'Espace, the Repub Lounge in Kimihurura, a sure value of the kigali parties, the People, renowned for its concerts and DJ sets, or the Rosty Club in Remera, a very popular address among Rwandans with an assured local atmosphere.
