Rwanda Cultural and Heritage Academy (RCHA) on October 27, hosted an event to celebrate World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, under the theme: "Heritage in sound and visuals, the channel of culture and history of Rwandans.”
The event attracted various government officials and traditional artistes to celebrate and reconnect the nation with its rich cultural history.
RCHA also inaugurated a three-month long exhibition of research based traditional Rwandan songs that have been preserved and collected during the colonial period in 1954 and postcolonial era until 2007.
The purpose of this exhibition is to bring these traditional songs and dances to the attention of Rwandans, so they can embrace them as part of their national heritage and learn more about the origin of their traditional music.
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In the exhibition room, there were more than 4,000 songs (Imbyino) stored in National Archives played by traditional music instruments including ‘Umuduri’, a musical bow consisting of a string supported by a flexible wooden string bearer, Ihembe (Horn), Ikondera (Trumpet) Inanga, Ikembe (Part of idiophones), Umwirongi (a flute made lobelia), Ingoma (drum), Amayugi (ankle bells) and mostly songs for sit ups (Inkera) or story telling songs
Besides, songs like pastoral songs (Indirimbo z&039;abashumba b'inka), choral songs (ibihozo), poetry and self-praising songs (ibyivugo n’ibisigo), Amahamba, Amabanga (secret), Amahindura inzira nziza and Indama, are among the songs showcased.
Marie-Claude Uwineza, the National Archives Acting Director, stressed the importance of heritage in preserving history and knowledge.
"The exhibition aims to invite Rwandans to engage with their traditional and storytelling songs, to better understand their historical background, the unique story they hold and current message they convey,” she said.
She added: "These songs hold much of knowledge, history, culture, and advice that we can benefit from. Our traditional style is very rich and young people shouldn’t underestimate its values; they have much to learn from it.”
Uwineza urged local artistes to familiarize themselves with these songs and dances to improve their own art since everything has the origin and if they cannot do it no one will do it on their behalf.”
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Equally, Gabriel Mbonimana, a researcher and author of a book called 'Patrimoine Musical du Rwanda - Musique Traditionnelle,' explained that Muzika (music) is a Latin word that means Rwandans copied the name but not the style.
The 91-year-old had the opportunity to pursue music under Father Eustache Byusa, the ‘Kumuhororo’ singer and conducted research on the song 'Inyange ihatse Ibigarama' in Nyanza.
The "walking encyclopedia" believes that Rwandans can do better in terms of preserving traditional songs and dancing just like others do. He further urged Rwandans to learn, preserve and pass down the knowledge and songs to the young generation for the sake of keeping Gakondo songs active and relevant.
"Benimana’ genre initially composed by King Mutara Rwogera in 1830 to 1840 is still there and relevance, why can’t we do the same?” he questioned.
The exhibition aims to invite Rwandans to engage with their traditional and storytelling songs, to better understand their historical background.