YB Foundation, an initiative dedicated to preserving the legacy of the late musician Yvan Buravan and Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (RCHA), on January 26, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), solidifying their commitment to collaboratively preserve and promote Rwandan culture and the native language, ‘iKinyarwanda’. The event was held at Richard Kandt House Museum, under the presence of Robert Masozera, the Director General of RCHA, and Raissa Umutoni, YB Foundation founder and sister to the late Buravan. The move encompasses various initiatives, including the preservation and promotion of traditional dance, extensive research on Rwandan culture, heritage, Kinyarwanda, music, and dance, as well as advocacy efforts to champion Rwandan music and dance. ALSO READ: What Buravan’s foundation means for Rwanda’s music industry Under this MOU, RCHA assumes key responsibilities, such as offering advice, knowledge sharing, and providing necessary tools for joint activities between YB Foundation and the academy. The academy will also contribute expertise to support YB Foundation’s initiatives focused on promoting and preserving culture, heritage, Kinyarwanda, music, and dance. Additionally, the RCHA extends access to its infrastructure and tools, fostering a learning environment for the foundation and its beneficiaries. The academy will play a crucial role in recommending potential partners for collaborative projects. YB Foundation, in turn, commits to maximizing the opportunities provided by the cultural body, utilizing the space and resources effectively. The foundation has already established ‘Twaje Cultural Academy’, to create a dedicated space for the younger generation aged four to 18 years to learn and embrace their cultural heritage, provide resources that would enable them to protect their identity while simultaneously equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s modern world. ALSO READ: Buravan's life and legacy: How the young Rwandan singer produced timeless music Umutoni highlighted the importance of this achievement, discussing the establishment of ‘Twaje Cultural Academy’ and the continuation of singer Buravan’s vision, aiming to preserve his legacy. Acknowledging the need for continuous learning, she expressed the importance of seeking support from RCHA for additional knowledge, backups, mentorships, guidance, and emphasized the relevance of the past in the present move. “That’s why we are here,” she said. “I believe through collaboration we can build a brighter future with a generation that is proud of their country, possesses a genuine identity and spreads love for their nation wherever they go,” she said. Masozera expressed admiration of the initiative arguing that the foundation has a unique approach to embrace Rwanda’s heritage, specifically Gakondo dance and Kinyarwanda language being given to the young generation grappling with globalization. He said: “This is a visionary initiative, and the agreement we just signed is timely, given our upcoming celebration of a month dedicated to the local language. We’ll ensure its success, enabling young people to learn more from the academy.” He observed that Rwandans proficient in Kinyarwanda fall into three categories: those who speak it well with proper grammar and vocabulary; others who understand it but intentionally don’t speak it well, creating new slangs and words by mixing it with other languages; and those, mainly youth in diaspora, and others who want to speak it but are unable to. Masozera pointed out that this issue is common among influential individuals such as musicians, officials, socialites, and public figures, which is a concern for the language’s preservation. “However, efforts are being intensified to promote the proper use of Kinyarwanda, especially among the youth and Rwandans abroad, as preserving the language is crucial to preventing its decline, he said.
