Rwandan visual artist Bruce Mbanzabugabo on March 30, organised an art exhibition dubbed “My Rwanda Collection,” with which he took art enthusiasts through the history of Rwanda with a series of bold and challenging art pieces that span the complexity of the country’s identity. “My Rwanda Collection” is a raw and thought-provoking art exhibition that confronts Rwanda's history, from its ancient heritage to the painful realities of the past and its path toward rebuilding. Through the exhibition, Mbanzabugabo invited the audience to reflect on the painful truths and indomitable resilience that have shaped Rwanda's past and continue to shape its future. Each art piece reflects key moments in the nation’s evolution—ancient leadership, the pain of colonization, the trauma of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, the struggle for liberation, and the ongoing journey of rebuilding and progress. Curated by Bruce M Hub, the collection includes 14 digital works titled Nkubito Yimanzi, Ikotaniro, Fidelis, Ishyo, Iwacu, Jeopardy, The Kush Child, Wamehamia Musituni, Mon Palais, My Choice, Ubu-Muntu, 24H-1, Dileme, and Etoile Perdu. ALSO READ: Visual artist on portraying messages of hope, going international According to the digital visual artist, the inspiration of the exhibition is rooted to his childhood memories. He often heard the phrase “my Rwanda” from his father, who frequently spoke of Rwanda before passed away outside the country. Although Mbanzabugabo was raised outside Rwanda, he felt a deep connection to the country, and, as he matured, he decided to express this bond through his art. “I kept remembering the history that I had with my parents and, as I grew up, I thought about something I can do or give, and I decided to showcase that life in the art show,” he said. Mbanzabugabo emphasized that his artworks are more than just paintings—they are deeply personal stories. “My drawing is not just painting, it's my story. I am connected with each painting there; this collection holds special significance due to their nature. I was even emotional explaining some paintings,” he added. He also expressed his satisfaction with how the public engaged with the exhibition, adding that he was happy to see people connecting with the work. Reflections of art enthusiasts Pamella Mudacyikwa, a mother, said the exhibition made her evening and admitted that she was deeply impacted. She hailed the artist for the way he shared the history of Rwanda through his artwork, describing it as though the artist had written the story with his brush, using beautiful and meaningful colors. There was a really deep meaning for every piece of art, and I liked the way the exhibition educated the younger generation about the history of Rwanda from the pre-colonial period throughout. Not a single step was missing in the story,” she noted. Mudakikwa emphasized the importance of continuing to share Rwanda's history, particularly with younger generations which is entitled carry the story forward. She also called for greater support for artists, acknowledging their essential role in telling the nation's history, even when visual representations of that history were once rare. Laurent Rwagitinywa reflected on the exhibition as a powerful reminder of the past, particularly for older generations. He connected deeply with the paintings, saying they reflected his own experiences from the 1950s. “My favorite piece was Iwacu because, when we were outside the country, children used to love sitting with parents to talk, listen to the radio talking about our country and the painting with a cow reminded me more about our country and our culture,” he said. One more art piece that stood out was 24H-1, a portrait that symbolizes teamwork and collaboration. The painting caught the attention of many invitees including Davina Uwera, a reservation manager and one of the event organizers. It showed teamwork. So, as Rwandans, if we could work together day by day, hour by hour, we could get to something. I also learned that I should work with others to build something that can last longer and make an impact,” Uwera said. Honoree Ishimwe, an IT engineer, was also impressed by the powerful message that ‘Iwacu’ artwork conveys. He particularly picked Dileme as his favourite painting because he felt it reflected a common reality for many families in Rwanda. “On that portrait, there is a person with a wedding ring, but there’s another one who was both observing and crying. He called it Dileme because he was confused about the tears that people cry at a wedding,” said Ishimwe. But then, so many questions came in Ishimwe’s mind while looking at the painting. “Is it because they’re afraid? Is it because they’re excited? Or is it because the divorce rate is high these days?” he wondered. Ishimwe described the painting as a reflection of modern family struggles, serving as self-awakening to encourage people to learn from these realities and avoid repeating them.
