Cultural Resources

Aka – products – My favorite!!

Rwandan food is quite simple most of the time, since many still rely on subsistence farming and will eat whatever they have recently harvested. However, there are two very special edible products unique to Rwanda that I became a huge fan of during my visit. They both happen to begin with the prefix aka- which is of the diminutive object Class 7 and modifies other words to mean “little”.

Akarusho – Little advantage? I can’t find the exact translation for irusho but something like that. Akarusho is a delicious, sweet alcoholic wine made from bananas! I prefer it slightly less than banana beer, which also includes sorghum, but both are incredibly delicious.

Akabanga – Little secret. This is a habanero (or scotch bonnet) pepper spicy oil which you can drizzle onto any food. I found myself asking for it again and again since I love spice, and luckily every restaurant carries it. I am considering making my own or ordering some online because I still crave it.

Traditional Performances

High jumping – Gusimbuka urukiramende is a unique type of high jumping that was practiced for a variety of reasons. This includes athletic training, competitions, rites of passage, religious/spiritual ritual, or performance for rulers.

Traditional dances – Intore is a very traditional type of dance typically performed at ceremonies. The men’s dancing is said to represent strength of warriors while the women represent the grace of the cow. This is because Rwandan kings would keep special cows with very long, curved horns, so women outstretch their arms to mimic this horn shape.

Contemporary Culture

Papa Sava – This channel posts episodes of Papa Sava, a Rwandan comedy/drama show. It demonstrates modern Rwandan life and culture by showing insights into the characters’ everyday activities.

Noah Bugingo – Artist – This young painter, Noah Bugingo, makes beautiful modern art depicting the lifestyle, people, and animals of Rwanda. Some common themes in his paintings are children, plants, wildlife, bicycles, and markets, all of which are really central to Rwandan life.

Books

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin – This book is about fictional characters in Kigali but based on true life. It’s a touching look into the lives of women in Rwanda and stories of resilience in the face of hardship.

Inside the Hotel Rwanda: The Surprising True Story and Why it Matters Today  by Edouard Kayihura & Kerry Zukus – This is a recount of real stories from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people. The Hotel Rwanda was a makeshift shelter during the genocide which earned international fame following the release of a popular movie drama. This book tells the real story of what happened, as told by actual survivors.