IT IS OFTEN SAID that art communicates. It is the medium through which Rigobert Uwiduhaye, a local visual artist, uses to convey messages on nature and wildlife conservation. His worst agony is poaching, which is what compelled him to divert his focus entirely on paintings of animals and nature. Through art, Uwidahuye stimulates change in the conservation of natural resources and insistent challenges such as climate change, deforestation and global warming. The 25-year-old started drawing as early as Primary One. With a strong passion for cars, he was most of the time lost in drawing cars of different models and was soon able to enhance his skills when he joined high school at Ecole d’Art de Nyundo in Rubavu district and gained more experience working in different art galleries in Musanze and Kigali. Although the youngster has tried out several careers paths and business ventures to earn a living, drawing for him is the only thing that brings him joy and entertainment. Just like any job, however, art isn’t so rosy a profession, as the materials to use are expensive and few since they are imported. Uwiduhaye owns an art gallery in Musanze district, and takes about five to ten days to complete an art piece, depending on the size and paintings. Besides art, he also co-founded the first-ever community library in Musanze, dubbed “Agati (small tree) Library”, as a way of curbing the illiteracy rates and supporting 50 per cent of his income through his artwork sales. “While we had a chance and privilege of pursuing higher education, we know many who have not due to the common hardships of life in Musanze. As an appreciation for having had access to education from a young age, and our understanding of literacy’s incomparable value, we decided to establish the first community library in our hometown,” he says. The artist grew up with his five other co-founders, all in their early twenties, in Musanze and wanted to create a safe place where children in Musanze community could learn and nurture their potential through reading. They worked hard, saved money, and opened the library in 2018. For two years, they have acquired more than 3,500 books, and have provided a learning reservation for hundreds of children. Since they are all students however, they are finding it difficult to fund and manage the library, and therefore often seek outside support by inviting youth volunteers at the library to take care of the little ones. Through the library, Uwiduhaye serves different customers’ needs through commissioned paintings and partnerships with organisations. He has reached out to a broad audience and engrossed with customers worldwide through his newly built website and social media platforms to share learnings and creative beauty.
