Discover Remarkable Rwanda and its Culture-Traditions-Heritage-a Way of Life with Africa holiday safaris. Rwanda is rich in Traditional
Culture and Practices, many of which are practiced today and passed on to the next generation that will be Rwanda tomorrow.
Rwanda is much more than Mountain Gorillas. Rwanda consists of three ethnic groups which include Hutus, Tutsi and Twa. It’s people, it’s traditions, and Culture that make Rwanda unique in the heart of Africa and below are some of the cultural experiences in Rwanda.
Traditional Cultural Dances
Music and dance play an important role in the tradition of all Rwandan people . Traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary INANGA, a harp-like instrument with eight strings. More celebratory dances are backed by a drum orchestra, INGOMA, which typically comprises seven to nine members, and collectively produce a hypnotic and exciting explosion set of intertwining rhythms.
Africa holiday Safaris works very close to different communities and we can offer to our visitors a great opportunity to experience traditional performances in the villages or towns of Rwanda. The finest expression of Rwanda’s varied and dynamic traditional musical and dance styles, however, is the INTORE Dance Troupe. AMATORERO, elegant performance by girls and women fluttering white cloth is also popular in all over Rwanda.
Rwandan Rural Life:
You can spend a day or two with Azizi Life in rural Rwanda and experience what life is like for rural Rwandans. Learn how to weave, carve and create handcraft products like baskets. Seasonal planting or harvesting of fresh ingredients for your traditional meal. Once the ingredients and water have been collected, food preparation begins with washing, peeling, pounding, and grinding the ingredients using traditional methods and tools.
Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village tour;
The Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village(Kinigi) that portrays Life in Rwanda is the perfect afternoon event. Iby’Iwacu village is located around Parc National des Volcans in Nyabigoma, Kinigi, Musanze district, Northern Province. The only way to get to know people, is getting close and interacting with local people, and taking part in their daily activities, lifestyles artifacts and ways of living of local people.You learn how to ;-drum and dance, shoot a bow, make traditional medicines from the forests, cooking, gathering and hunting, even become King or Queen for the day.
Imigongo Art:
Imigongo is an art form popular in Rwanda traditionally made by women using cow dung.They use cow dung from calves and mix it with ash and then make different designs ranging from the back of elephant, elbow designs to mention but a few. Often in the colors black, white and red, popular themes include spiral and geometric designs that are painted on walls, pottery, and canvas. Today, you can find Imigongo Tables, Mirrors, Wall hangings, even purses with in Hotels and Lodges all over Rwanda. With Africa holiday Safari you can even take classes.
Inyambo Cattle:
The Inyambo Cows are the Ankole Cows in Kinyarwanda. They have been considered the cattle of Kings in Rwanda and are kept for both its tender meat and its milk. It’s interesting to gain a cultural perspective about the animals that influenced the Rwanda culture and a kingdom and its the main reason why they are called cows of the king. They are easily accessible with Africa Holiday Safari. You will be most amazed with the size of their horns and often the beauty of their coats.
With Africa Holiday Safari in Rwanda and Uganda, you will see them along the roads, on fields, often herded by young boys.
Rwanda – more than a Safari Destination:
It’s people are only leaving past ways of hatred, segregation behind while embracing the wholesome parts of traditional Rwandan Culture and keeping the ways of old alive and passing them on to future generations. Therefore, no one today is having an identity card that identifies them as Tutsi or Hutu and Twa but simply a Rwandan. Rwanda is more than a safari destination but with friendly and a warm welcoming people.
Rwanda – the clean country:
Umuganda, also known as community work day with the purpose to contribute to the overall national development. It was reintroduced to Rwandan life in 1998 as part of efforts to rebuild the country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. On this day, both Rwandans and outsiders are encouraged to participate in the activity.Rwandans between 18 and 35 participate except above 65 years of age. Every last Saturday of the month people embark on cleaning their neighborhoods, towns, building, clearing streams, repairing roads, and others. It was the first country to ban plastic sacks and walking on grass is not allowed.
Rwandan Culture Dish-Brochettes:
In Rwanda Restaurants – Brochettes will be on the Menu along with halved potatoes, Fries, Roasted Bananas. Brochettes are most often barbecued over an open fire. It has been said that “Brochettes define the Cuisine of Rwanda.”Sometimes the meat has been marinated for extra flavor and tenderness accompanied with amazing pili pili sauce, others will have especially tasty onions (although raw onions in Rwanda all seem to taste remarkably amazing), some will booby-trap their brochettes with pieces of liver. The mighty brochette is about the only stable food in Rwanda.
With Africa Holiday Safari, you will have a taste of the yummy Brochettes.
Sambaza –The Irresistible Delicacy.
They are found in Lake Sardines from Lake Kivu in Rwanda. You will eat sambaza for the first time and can’t stop going back for more. Sambaza can be prepared as stew, accompanied with Bugari (mingled cassava flour), rice or any other local foods. The most common way of serving sambaza is when its deep fried, with French fries and salad as an accompaniment. Prudent chefs also prepare sambaza with white onions and the taste is awesome.
Most Lodges, Hotels around the Lake will cook you up to a batch of them, and often they are eaten as an appetizer or snack along with fries.
The Arabica Bourbon Coffee of Rwanda:
Arabica Bourbon beans is one of the best coffee beans grown in Africa, the number of coffee consumers is growing because of it’s taste and the Aroma.The high-quality Arabica Bourbon beans has become part of Rwandan Life and Culture. In Kigali, more and more Rwandans are frequenting the coffee shops. The coffee culture of Rwanda is emerging on a large scale for both the locals and the visitors.
The Rwanda’s Genocide Memorials:
Genocide Memorials in Rwanda as a result of the 1994 war and these places were put in place to actually commemorate this dangerous Genocide war. It was a tribal conflict that turned extremely bloody. The aim of was to wipe the land of Tutsi, in a bid to “purify” the land.Close to one million people died and it is believed that this war happened for about 100 days. They are about eight memorial sites in Rwanda which include;Murambi, Gisozi ,Gisenyi, Nyamata, Bisesero, Nyarubuye, Nyanza and Ntarama
