African cultural diversity showcased at RDF college

Forty-seven senior military officers from 12 African countries who are currently attending Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Command and Staff College in Musanze District, on Friday, showcased the culture of their respective countries. The cultural gala took place at the college headquarters with the aim of highlighting to the officer-students the importance of culture in strategic studies by understanding the relationship between national traditions, cultures and values with security. The students at the college are all senior officers (from Major to Lieutenant Colonel), are drawn from Rwanda, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Food, drinks, social etiquette, art, dances and attire were among the cultural aspects showcased by the officers depending on their countries of origin. Caterpillar dish One of the cultural exhibition stands which caught the attention of many was the dish made up of dried caterpillar, one of prominent traditional delicacies in Zambia. The RDF Command and Staff College commandant Brig Gen Didace Ndahiro speaks during the cultural day celebrations in Musanze District on Friday. Photo: Courtesy. Major Billy Munshya, from Zambian Defence Force, told Saturday Times that Zambians consider caterpillars the most delicious insects. “Caterpillars are very important in our country as they represent our tradition and culture, before we started eating some of other modern foods caterpillars have got a long history in our country, that’s why we treasure them as big part of us,” he noted Munshya added that in the Zambian culture, caterpillars are picked in bushes from across the country by young people while the adult ones concentrate on other income generating activities. Rwanda military officers showcased the country’s traditional ways of living throughout thatched houses, food, beverages and dances among other aspects. Speaking to media, most of the African officers said the cultural festival was important as they shared experience and cultures with their course mates from different countries stressing that different cultural awareness will help them effectively undertake future responsibilities. “As military personnel we can be deployed in other countries for peacekeeping missions for example, so you need to understand the culture of other people because if you don’t understand the culture and environment in which a contingent is deployed the mission can’t be successful,” said Lt Colonel Victor Mbeha from Botswana Defence Force Lt Colonel Tiwuliha Najira, a female military officer from Malawi Defence Force echoed Mbeha’s sentiments saying; “As a military officer, wherever I am deployed (from any of the countries represented), I will have a notion of their culture. “It is like now we are learning from each other even military-wise so that even if I am deployed there or we meet somewhere and operate together, therefore if you have got a chance to attend this cultural festival you can’t be lost,” she added College Commandant Brig Gen Didace Ndahiro said the cultural day was celebrated to showcase the value the college attaches to students’ various cultures, adding that the activity enriches educational experience for the officers. “Cultural diversity is indeed important to us because our community of military colleges and our allied countries from where we draw our faculty and students consist of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds and as we interact with each other, we are able to build a bridge of trust, respect and understanding across culture,” he said. The officers began the one-year course in June last year and are expected to complete mid this year. RDF Command and Staff College was inaugurated in 2012 and has so far graduated over 470 senior officers from across Africa and beyond.

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African cultural diversity showcased at RDF college