RWA MAKONDERA CHILDREN DANCE TROUPE

2009-06-10T03:26:00.000-07:00

RwaMakondera (Rwandan Horns) Children’s Dance Troupe is a project from Ivuka Arts Studio that aims to launch Rwandan art to global heights by bringing Rwanda’s traditional dances to an international audience.

After seeing children beg for money on the streets of Kigali each day, Ivuka Arts Founder Collin Sekajugo was moved to help these youngsters by teaching them a skill that could help them earn an income. He quickly recognized that a dance troupe could be just the thing, providing not only skills but also a much-needed sense of belonging for these marginalized youths,

RwaMakondera brings together children from disadvantaged backgrounds and places them in an artistic community that nurtures their talents and gives them a platform for self-expression, By training under caring adults who take a genuine interest in their well-being, these youngsters are given a renewed sense of hope and possibility for their future.

RwaMakondera is founded on the belief that every child – not least the voiceless and underrepresented – has an important message to share with the community. The project is committed to helping each child develop the skills and confidence that will allow them to raise their own horns and sound them clearly throughout the world.

Rwamakondera was selected by the World Children Cultural Exchange in Tilburg, Holland.They left 5 May 2009 from Kigali, Rwanda,
for the festival that lasted for 26 days.

Rwamakondera children dance Troupe was selected last Novomber by Mundial Productions based in Tilburg, Holland to represent Africa during this year's World Children Festival dubbed 'Via Del Mondo'.

RwaMakondera among other children groups representing different continents participated in this cultural event for 26 days where they exchanged ideas, cultural and interacted on issues concerning the societies where they come from.

This event brought together lots of people from different corners of Holland and Europe in general where the Rwandan young stars were witnessed while performing different Rwandan traditional Dances and at the end they scooped the first place amongst the participating groups.

The organizers plus the general Dutch public including the Rwandan Ambassador to Holland who attended one of the various performances appreciated and hailed who Rwamakondera represented both Rwanda and the entire African continent during this annual event and Cultural Exchange in Tilburg,

more info check: www.ivukaarts.com ,or contact +250 788429227 (Programs Manager: Paradis Winslet) or +250 788620560 (Director, Ivuka Arts: Collin Sekajugo)
e-mail: rwamakondera@gmail.com

IVUKA ARTS KIGALI

2009-06-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

Rebirth of Rwandan ART.

The talent of Rwanda’s young artists, and Rwandan contemporary art to global heights.

Ivuka Arts Kigali is the Project...

Ivuka, the Kinyarwandan word for birth, also evokes the companion idea of rebirth. And indeed, Rwandan contemporary art demands nothing less at this critical moment in history.

A little over a decade ago, during the terrible days that befell the Land of A Thousand Hills, the world witnessed the passing of what may have been today’s Rwandan Masters. Rwanda’s only major art school, L’Ecole d’Art du Rwanda, was destroyed, along with countless works of art that defined the country’s contemporary cultural heritage.

With this single blow, the very institution that was to ensure the vitality of Rwandan art throughout the continent and the world was snuffed out. And today, Rwandan contemporary art is practically unknown by the international community.

But though the body was destroyed, the soul refused to die. The school’s legacy, albeit diminished, continues to live on in some of its lesser-known apprentices, namely Karangwa (R.I.P.), Pascal Bushaija, Félicien Bigira (now based in the U.S.), and Jean d’Amour Nsengimana. But where can their works be found?

The fact remains that it is exceptionally difficult for Rwandan artists to find success without the support of an institution that can hone their skills and provide a platform for their exposure Clearly, then the time has come for a new body to be raised up to take on this challenge,

and so Collin's visions is,

that Ivuka Arts Kigali will become the next generation of hands and feet that will blaze the trail for an authentic Rwandan Renaissance in our day. Join us in making this dream a reality!

Thanks to Collin Sekajugo the Director and founder of Ivuka arts and Rwa makondera children dance troupe!