Renowned cultural troupe Inganzo Ngari and musician Mike Kayihura have been confirmed to perform at Rwanda Festival Nyirarumaga, a tribute to legendary Rwandan poetess Nyirarumaga.
Slated for Friday, March 8 at Green Hills Academy located in Nyarutarama, Gasabo District, the event coincides with International Women’s Day, a global recognition and celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day to raise awareness about gender equality and women’s rights issues.
Students, parents, and other guests are expected to grace the event which will include various traditional performances, notably, dances, theatre, poetry, and other related activities to honour Nyirarumaga’s work.
In the article Nyirarumaga, mother of Rwandan poetry immortalised, published by The New Times, as the foster Queen Mother of King Ruganzu II Ndoli (1510-1543), Nyiraruganzu II Nyirarumaga played a central role in institutionalising the use of poetry to perpetuate the history of the reigns of Rwandan monarchs.
For example, her poem ‘Umunsi ameza imiryango yose’ – the day she became the matriarch of all families, tells the story of Nyamususa, the wife of Gihanga, who founded the Nyiginya Monarchy.
"Legend has it that Nyamususa bore three children, each of whom inherited a kingdom from their father: Kanyarwanda was bequeathed Rwanda, Kanyabugesera, Bugesera, and Kanyendorwa, Ndorwa.”
"Nyirarumaga composed this poem as a model for a new historiographical poetic form called ‘Impakanizi’. Its form can be viewed as a necklace – urunigi, in which every king’s history is added like a pearl/bead – isaro.
"This was basically a new system of conserving the country’s literature through poetry, up to date,” the article points out.
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According to Serge Nahimana, the Director of Culture at Green Hills Academy and brains behind the concert, the day aims to celebrate women, in particular, Nyirarumaga, since she is considered the ‘mother of Rwandan poetry’ and a Rwandan poetess whose work is regarded as "extraordinary” in local literature.
"Nyirarumaga introduced ‘Ibisigo’ exploring more about previous kingdoms and most of the history we got is drawn from her work. If she didn’t write about it, the whole history would have disappeared, or we’d have less of it,” Nahimana said.
He noted that the famous poetess created the first chair of poets in Rwanda (Intebe y’Abasizi), which was very important in the kingdom’s administration. This also helped people to know much about Gihanga and the next generations—Intebe y’Abasizi is almost the equivalent of the present-day parliament.
"Therefore, she created an important hub, very commendable work which deserves to be celebrated now and beyond. Similarly, performing in front of those kids, witnessing experts dancing, whom they can learn one or two things from is something amazing,” Nahimana noted.