72cl beer bottles that are the standard in
Rwanda are impossible to forget. Most
beer lovers will remember the moment
they first came across these giant bottles.
For the beer enthusiasts, they probably
felt like they had died and gone to beer
heaven. Who can forget a trip to heaven?
4.
their community. Normally it is some
sort of cleaning or building exercise.
And if you are lucky, you might bump
into the President of Rwanda (President
Paul Kagame) who often joins residents
of different parts of the country to do
Umuganda.
The dancers: One of the most
memorable things about Rwanda is
its people’s cultural dance.
On the one hand are the women,
who
dance gracefully with
delicate swaying
of the hands and
elegant footwork.
Then there is the
warriors’ dance
(Intore dance)
where men combine
intricate choreography
with
unbridled masculine
aggressiveness. The dancers move from
side to side stomping and swaying and
jumping in alternate rhythm, their heads
jerking back and forth, a merry frenzy
shining on their faces. Suddenly they stop,
their arms outstretched, and let out bloodcurdling battle cries....
No one who has seen this world-famous
dance will forget it.
The Markets: There is something
charming about Kigali’s big markets.
A visit to the markets, say at Kimironko
or Kicukiro where you
can
buy almost any and
all groceries and
cultural objects
is an interesting
experience.
Plus, you get
to haggle with
the
amiable market ladies (and gents) until
you come to a price that’s fair for both
parties. In its own way, this simple
experience leaves a pleasant yet indelible
mark.
5.
7.
Umuganda: If you are in Rwanda
on the last Saturday of the month,
you will be sure to notice that from 8 am
to about midday, everything comes to a
grinding halt. This is Umuganda day.
Umuganda is a special communal
activity peculiar to Rwanda where
sh