Must attend festivals in Rwanda

Must attend festivals in Rwanda: Rwanda is an African country with a thousand hills, beautiful landscapes, varied fauna, and cultural diversity. There it is a mix of old and new, making the history significantly appealing and the culture bursting with life that can be enjoyed festivals. To enable you to get the best experience out of your travels to Rwanda, here is a list of the best cultural festivals you should consider attending.

1. Imigongo: The Unique Art Festival

Another art form and dance is imigongo which is locally known as cow dung art, it is originally from Rwanda. This striking pictorial art is a masterpiece from cow dung, ash, and compact natural dyes of various colours. It uses geometric shapes and bright colors in its artwork, and noteworthy subjects include Rwandan history, religion, and traditions of most art forms that make up imigongo.

Imigongo Art Festival is an annual event that takes place towards the end of August in the peripheral village of Ntongwe, in Kabarondo District, near the border with Burundi. The Independence Festival of Burundi features the skills and talent of local Imigongo artists and patrons are able to know more about the methods used in producing the artwork and their importance. There is also a cultural show, traditional dances and songs as well as the sale of Imigongo artworks for customers to buy for their use or as souvenirs back home.

2. Umuganura: An Essential Celebration of the Harvest

Umuganura is a Rwandan harvest ceremony that is normally celebrated in the month of September. It is a period of thanking God for the harvest, giving chest, and reminding friends and family members how they have been. It is also used to guarantee food security, development of food sovereignty, and culture within the country of Rwanda.

In Umuganura the whole families and communities get together to prepare a special meal which is prepared from what is harvested, children perform cultural dances and play different games. In fact, one of the most important parts of the festival is the speech of the local authorities, who recognize the activities and achievements of the community.

However, since Umuganura is the traditional event usually found in every Rwandan home and community, it is not concentrated in particular areas. However, most of the hotels as well as the guest accommodation facilities in Rwanda hold the services, where the guests get a raw deal of Rwandan culture during the occasion.

3. Kwita Izina: The Gorilla Naming Ceremony

Kwita Izina is a ceremony that is a very special and much-celebrated event and which is normally held at the end of September in the Volcanoes National Park which hosts the remaining mountain gorillas in the whole world. The festival was started in 2005 to help people understand the work of the organization that is defending endangered species and also to share the good news about the enhancement of a number of mountain gorillas.

As part of the ceremony, newborn gorillas are adorned with names that are bestowed on them by regional and international personalities, in addition to Rwandan dances, songs, and cultural entertainment. There are also additional chances to get acquainted with Rwandan souls for conservation and gorilla tracking.

4. The Intyongo Music and Dance Festival

Intyongo, meaning red earth is an annual cultural festival rwaanda floods with music annually. The festival is celebrated in February at Nyanza, which is referred to as the cultural and historical center of the Rwanda nation.

The event will provide Rwandan music, dance, and storytelling The guests will be able to discover facts about Rwandans’ music, dance, and storytelling. Dancers wear traditional outfits and through Intyongo beats rhythm and melody, visitors get an artistic flourish of Rwanda’s ethnic heterogeneity. The Intyongo Music and Dance Festival is very rich representing the best chances to familiarize oneself with the Rwandese traditions and embrace its unique colors.

5. Igihango: The Rwanda Arts Fest also meant the pwogwama and dewooping of Arts fests from de Ancient Rwanda period.

Igihango means traditional Rwandan painting on cow skin which existed before the colonization of Rwanda and painted using natural colors. It is also a prehistoric art that gives the history of Rwanda, Rwandans, and their lifestyle. The Igihango Arts Festival in October presents to the people a chance to learn about this traditional art and even see it being done by the artists.

Tourists also get to enjoy the cultural dances and music accompanying the festivals together with getting to interact with the locals and feel how they live. The Igihango Arts Festival is a showcase of Rwanda’s talents with regard to art and craft as an avenue to market culture tourism in Rwanda.

Must attend festivals in Rwanda: Conclusion

Cultural festivals provide a window into Rwanda’s heritage and an easy way to experience the culture through music, dance, and drama performances. It’s also important to note that there is something for everyone, from art lovers to those interested in a gorilla naming ceremony, which can be witnessed in the Kwita Izina. Participating in such cultural legends will not only enable one to gain The cultural value systems of Rwandan people but also a very fulfilling journey in travel. Thus, in order to feel the atmosphere and feel Rwanda’s spirit, you need to know what festival to visit in Rwanda.