Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC) is set to publish a book that incorporates the nation’s values and customs. The announcement was made by RALC yesterday while presenting the book to partners that included a cluster of ministries, commissions, civil society and others. The book brings patriotism, unity, integrity and work (gukunda igihugu, ubumwe, ubupfura n’umurimo) as the main values and customs upon which other Rwandan values are established. Nyirasafari said her ministry will work with religious leaders to impart values and customs among masses. Kelly Rwamapera. “Many people have gone to school but not all have the values that make them fit for certain responsibilities which we believe the book has come address,” said Cyprien Niyomugabo, the chairperson of RALC. He added that the book will be a gateway for those who want to explore the Rwandan culture. One of the resolutions of the National Dialogue of 2017 was to conserve national values and customs, especially by passing them on to the young generations. The chairpeson the National Itorero Commission, Edouard Bamporiki, stresses a point during the meeting yesterday. RALC said the content will be imparted among Rwandans through families, schools, religious gatherings and civic meetings. Reactions The Minister for Sports and Culture, Espérance Nyirasafari, hailed the initiative and said the book will also be in the three other official languages: English, French and Swahili. “We need the book in other languages such that those who don’t speak Kinyarwanda can understand these values from the Rwandan perspective or just to know who we are,” she said Marie Immaculée Ingabire, the Chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda, complained that the book was patriarchal, giving examples of men in general and asked to reconsider gender sensitivities in the book. “You have mentioned a lot about the ideas we inherit from ‘fathers’, grandfathers, up to forefathers’ without mentioning the mother,” she noted. Ingabire said the book should use general terms such as ‘grandparents’ and ‘forebears’ to avoid gender bias. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
