Heritage and Culture
Rwanda’s Traditional Imigongo Art is on the Rise By Yulia Denisyuk
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n Rwanda, bold, geometric Imigongo art adorns the homes of traditional villages and the lobbies of the country’s finest boutique hotels (including the recently opened One&Only Nyungwe House). The hottest fashion design shops and artisan studios in the capital of Kigali proudly carry pieces of Imigongo art on their shelves. But there’s more to this distinctly Rwandan
stands as a symbol of incredible resilience and ingenuity—like Rwandans themselves. Here is what you need to know about imigongo and where to find it.
A royal tradition In the small landlocked Eastern African nation of Rwanda, cows have been revered for centuries. Owning a cow in this traditionally agrarian society was a symbol of wealth and noble social status;
A replica of a traditional Rwandan village near Volcanoes National Park features homes with Imigongo designs. Photo by Yulia Denisyuk craft than meets the eye: It is created through a remarkable process that uses an abundant material—cow dung—and, with the help of artistry and natural dyes, turns it into an object of admiration. In the disarray that followed the genocide, the art form nearly disappeared; but now, riding the wave of cultural resurgence that’s taking over the country 25 years later, Imigongo
the animal was so important that a subset of the breed called inyambo was developed specifically for the kings in the 17th century. These elegant royal cows with long, arched horns and a stately appearance paraded past royal villages in elaborate ceremonies that honored the ruling king. Perhaps the idea for Imigongo was sparked during one of these royal parades. According
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