As one drives towards Sonatubes-Kicukiro, a beautiful sculpture is visibly seen in the roundabout displaying three Rwandans rocking traditional attires – seemingly dancing attires. It is a new statue whose photos started making rounds on social media Friday morning. Some have been asking the meaning behind the new artwork and the people behind it, but it is nothing short of the true representation of Rwanda’s rich culture and tradition. The work of art depicts two female dancers elegantly swaying their hands, as well as a man drumming. The two ladies wear traditional dancing attire complete with amayogi (small bells tied by traditional dancers around their ankles). According to the City of Kigali, the new sculpture is a portrayal of the welcoming culture and hospitality towards guests, which is a known virtue in the Rwandan tradition. “In Rwandan culture, it is the tradition to dance Umushyayayo (a form of dance) when welcoming a guest as a symbol of joy and happiness of having visitors in your home,” an emailed response from the City Hall reads in part. The three people also symbolize unity and gender inclusiveness, it adds. According to the City of Kigali, the new sculpture is a portrayal of the welcoming culture and hospitality towards guests, which is a known virtue in the Rwandan tradition. Emmanuel Kwizera. “The presence of female figure indicates the inclusion of a woman in all aspects of the country’s life including public gatherings and ceremonies,” the city noted, highlighting that it was deliberately placed at a strategic location. From the structure, a male drummer is facing in the direction of Kicukiro centre, which will be the same entrance to the city from Bugesera International Airport, once completed. The two female dancers face towards two adjacent roads, one coming towards Remera and the other towards the Kigali city centre, and according to the city authorities, this allows users of the roundabout from all roads to have a clear view of the piece of art. The plaque on which the statue sits is made in reinforced concrete with engraved traditional Imigongo motifs on the edge. The new statue was designed by local sculpture Pascal Bushayija. According to the City Mayor, Pudence Rubingisa, the statue is one of the many that will be built across the city as part of landscaping and greening Kigali. “This is part of the City of Kigali initiative to beautify the green and public spaces. We have developed a mini park at the City Hall and other public parks are being developed in Nyandungu and the former industrial park in Gikondo,” he said. He added that efforts are underway to continue to mobilise funds to develop other roundabouts and other public spaces. There are eight other planned roundabouts that will follow through according to city authorities.
