Day 3
The third and final day is a gentle walk from Ngoma village that descends down to the shores of Lake Kivu. The elders featured on this part of the walk include…
Nyiransengimana Agnes is a member of Rwanda’s Abatwa minority community and a celebrated potter. She talks about the history of pottery in Rwanda, which is one of the country’s oldest crafts, and how the items that her community makes have changed over the years as plastic and metal household goods have become more popular.
Ndorayabo Etienne is one of the region’s few remaining beekeepers: an important skill that has declined across Rwanda and internationally as bee populations have plummeted in response to global climate change and other challenges. He taught us about learning to work with bees from his father, and how he and other beekeepers are working to support their bee colonies.
Mukasine Margeritte is an exquisite dancer and leader of the Gishyita dance troop. She offered us an overview of the local dance style, known as Umushayayo, which is distinct to this region and used to celebrate important events within the community.
Mukakamana Pauligalete is an elder of the Ababanda clan and skilled weaver of carpets, baskets and other woven goods: an activity with a long history as women’s work in Rwanda. She explains weaving’s origins as a pleasurable but important activity that women used to do together over leisurely afternoons to ensure their families had beds, carpets, and other essentials.
Mukantwali Suzanna is Mukakamana’s daughter and is also another skilled weaver in her own right, who relies on this work to support herself and her children. In her business, she weaves many utilitarian items, such as carpets for drying sorghum in the sun, but also more beautiful items, such as decorative carpets and screens.
