ngiye iwacu

Sunday, January 18, 2015

The Rwandan (hairdresser) Experience and much more to muse about…

Looking back is sometimes a difficult task especially when there is an amount of occurrences which are not easy to rank.

Last Sunday Itorero Abatarutwa was showing the world what progress they made after six weeks of urban (contemporary) dance training and according to the reactions we got during and after the show we succeeded nicely. It is still a difficult task to bring people to an open air space on Sunday afternoon to look at something that despite a lot of explanations feels a bit weird compared to what is on the menu on every wedding and ceremony but I think that slowly people get used to it and at the end it’s like an unknown meal; you taste a bit and a bit more and even a bit more and at a certain moment you’ve got it.

Waking up the next morning for the first time in six weeks without having to prepare to go to Kanombe. Life is not fair as I have to go to a meeting with the General Manager of the Rwandan Museums. Lucky I, before going there, I regaled myself on the most fabulous hairdresser visit I had since at least forty years. One hour of sheer delight for the price of an eye wink. Gentlemen if you ever go to Kigali I will tell you the address; I’m sure you will renew the experience every week. All the hairdressers I visited all those years should be obliged to do an apprenticeship over there. I will not reveal the details, the secrets…. Go for the experience yourself… seen the price, a part of your ticket is partially paid. If I’m paying twenty euros to get almost thrown out after ten minutes in NL, I had this magical treatment for two euros for one hour…

The meeting was short, to the point. Someone tried to convince me that nothing was free anymore in this world. I agree… except the air I inhaled during all those weeks at the outer premises of the Presidential Palace Museum in Kanombe, that air I will never pay for. It is clear that Abatarutwa and I have to sign a MOU so we never have that everlasting discussion anymore about that famous Shakespeare saying… to pay or not to pay…

Also in that part of the world you meet people who are blind for their environment. Who are still thinking that when you don’t have anything except your talent you can use that talent as a magician who change nothing into hard cash. I invite them to try. I never succeeded but who knows one day that miracle will happen. Let me know…

That evening was my final one before flying back what results into a last visit with the family to the 2 Shots Club for a delicious (fish-) brochette. A few days before I was there also with a few UNESCO-IHE alumni. The price of coming back every year is that those gatherings are less visited because I meet those guys also at other occasions, so it was great to see some at the show on Sunday too.

Tuesday. My luggage is almost ready and lightweight compared to my arrival. I decided not to pack myself with all kinds of souvenirs. Believe me, just go to Rwanda and meet people, not monkeys, or if you want, look for monkeys too but choose people first. You will have the experience of a lifetime (don’t forget the hairdresser, lol). Rwanda is clean, safe and that is what people expect from a government of a country, to live in peace without fear. There is still a long way to go but go and breathe the Rwandan miracle.

In the afternoon I had a meeting with the Minister of State in charge of Technical & Vocational Education and training. The meeting was fruitful, to the point and we fixed us a clear deadline regarding the start of a vocational school for dance. It is our deliberate choice to also involve the people of l ‘Ecole des Sables from Senegal which I believe being the experts about African traditional and contemporary dance.

About my role in the process, I have still to think about that; I wrote the blueprint about the professionalization of dance in Rwanda through a vocational education system. It was well received on all levels. Now it’s time for implementation.

Sunday, after the show I had dinner with my other Rwandan family. The parents and brothers and sisters of Joselyne, my ‘protégée’, talented dancer and one of the pillars of the Abatarutwa company (together with Shaliffa, Ada and for sure Mary Mbabazi). It was very pleasant to spend time with them and I’m sorry we couldn’t do it more. As I told before, if everyone on this planet should take care of someone else we should live in a much better world. Sometimes people are looking at me as if I’m Jesus when I say this, be assured, I’m not, but some are chanting this weekly or even daily in church and I try to do it, just do it.

So here I am now. Since my arrival in bed with the remains of a food intoxication I got on the plane. Btw, nothing but praise for the blue armada. I’m worried about what is going on in that old 59+ body. I hope I will know something more tomorrow because this is not what I had in mind at my return.

Well one major news item is that two of our best dancers, Ada and Joselyne are both pre-selected for a professional dance education in Senegal. We submitted both their candidacy and both are chosen.

There is still a long way to go before my dream becomes true but I wish to thank all those who day by day are collaborating to this process in Rwanda and outside, My Rwandan families and friends. Egide and Francoise and kids who were bearing my sometimes rigid behavior for six weeks wondering who is that man that leaves in the morning, returns in the evening, refusing to eat and goes to bed because too tired to open his mouth. Jocelyne’s parents and family who don’t know how to judge that ‘poor’ muzungu apart that I make their daughter dance and dance and dance… Mary Mbabazi and family who probably think they did something wrong to the gods to experience Guy from ten am till five pm day after day after day after day.

I know for sure now that Rwanda is the place I would love to retire and if possible to contribute first a bit to the creation of a vocational dance education. In this perspective I think it should be wise that at my next visit I would live alone for a while, doing my groceries and my cooking, live amid the Rwandans and not only experience the luxury of having my own premises at my friend’s house. I can only hope they will understand and help me to reach that next stage.

Kigali, January 13 2015

Delft, January 17 2015.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Monsieur Paul

Many titles for this newsletter were reviewed the last couple of weeks but today while crossing the streets of Kigali I decided to give it this subtle title, Monsieur Paul. Maligned by some and worshiped by others I am just a fan, not a fan known as a groupie but rather as an admirer. Everyday I’m experiencing with my eyes and my veins what Monsieur Paul has done for this country and every day I’m happy that I can, albeit modestly, contribute a bit to this story. Monsieur Paul did not do it on his own, he did not do it alone; he guided millions of Rwandans to do it in a way he thought it would be good for this little country with the big heart in the heart of Africa as an example for all the African countries still suffering from the remains of a badly designed map produced by the old Europeans. What if the invaders from Europe wouldn’t have traveled the seas? How would Africa look today? And the same thought crossed my mind thinking about Latin America. We will never know but think about it for a few seconds… no it’s not science fiction!
Despite the need to write and to inform, the last weeks were so busy that at the end of the day I almost collapsed. For a few days I can enjoy a certain degree of rest before the final run to the presentation next Sunday. My health was not on its best the last week but fortunately the climate helps these old bones to overcome turbulences. And with a little help from the friends the mind can reboot.
Two weeks ago Catherine arrived, and meanwhile left again. At the start she was not supposed to teach a lot and came mainly to enjoy Christmas holidays but after one session with the dancers she wanted to continue and she did till the last day with a small interruption for the Christmas Days. We enjoyed this small break with the family in a sun-full and warm Gisenyi; spending hours at the lake with good food and spectacular views. Unfortunately we had to leave paradise on Sunday afternoon because of an invitation that could not be refused, being the guest of honor at the celebration of the 7th anniversary of the Abatarutwa company.
My days consist mainly to leave the house at 9.30 am, teaching from 10.00 12.00 the youngsters of the company, a small lunch with the dancers prepared by the leading staff, 12.30 - 14.00 rehearsing Libertango Africa, and from 14.00 - 17.00 working with the main group. Lucky I, Catherine was teaching the first part of the afternoon this last weeks so I could spend my time talking with the company management and other useful business.
There is little time to go out in the evenings apart from one single occasion that Egide took us to the Two Shot Club (previously the Culture Lab) to eat brochettes. On Christmas day I was in bed with a kind of flu.
Catherine and I attended New Year Eve late at friends of the family. The rest of the family joined us even later. It was cozy, drinking my first Heineken beer from a home barrel… our hosts also served good wines… so I forgot about the taste of the canal in front of IHE.
On New Year’s day I felt bad but we had promised to cook for the whole family and friends, 22 (read TWENTY TWO) so Cath and I invaded some friend’s kitchen and prepared a Greek salad and one of my famous pasta dishes, pasta with veal liver and a creamy pepper sauce. Food entirely consumed… Job done! Hope I will soon be able to show you the pictures of butcher Guy cutting a huge veal liver! Good food, nice people… we don’t need more for a proper start of a new year.
My so called rest these days consists of preparing the movies and the files for two dancers to subscribe for a training in Senegal, we made the records last Friday and we put all our energy to get them accepted despite a minor chance for it as we know that only 20-25 dancers from all over Africa will be accepted.
On the program for the next couple of days, a meeting with the Minister of Education, an encounter with UNESCO-IHE alumni, organizing the showcase for Sunday. Preparing and printing the certificates for the dancers, running to the ministry to have them signed. Thursday and Friday general rehearsals. Probably meeting with the people of the Rwandan Development Authority again about a vocational school for dance.
This morning I had a meeting at the Ministry at 6.30 (yes… read six thirty AM!) to discuss the venue for Sunday and some minor arrangements…

… There are two sorts of holidays, those you spend on the beach roasting in the sun; the others, the adventure ones…. Guess how mine are?

Thanks, Monsieur Paul, sans rancune.

-

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Settled

It’s a sunny Saturday morning ahead of another warm day. Preparing myself to go to a wedding of a close friend’s daughter. I hope I will survive the negotiations between the two families as I only went to bed at four. Catherine arrived last night and as traditional Rwandan welcoming is what it is, you can imagine that even in the middle of the night there is time for talking and talking and….

I had a busy but a feel good week. I was teaching my first full day and it’s so great to see those dancers with whom I’m working since 2010 growing and growing and being dedicated. I did my first attempt to know their names; everyone knows how terrible I am in this. We will see what’s left over next week Monday…

Also yesterday I went to town for the first time to do some shopping with the kids. It’s funny to meet Minister Joe at the supermarket’s gate followed by his faithful shadow. What I first thought to be his driver, his umbrella carrier, seems to be his body guard. Even funnier is the idea I have that the minister could be his bodyguards’ bodyguard but for those to whom I should give the wrong inspiration, be aware that the shadow player is a trained military, so be carefully when you approach the Minister with bad ideas! ;-)

Joe Habineza, Minister of Sports and Culture of the department with the same name, most known as ‘minispoc’ (the Dutch must love this abbreviation). I met him this week in a short meeting we had about the workshops in Kanombe, the remake of the Agaciro movie in Murambi at the latest in 2018-2019 and the creation of a vocational school for dance. We also agreed fast on a few practical things regarding the showcase by Abatarutwa on January 4^th. Lauren Makuza, his advisor and Director of Culture Promotion whom I met already last week will start the implementation…. Rwandan efficiency at its best.

The same afternoon Minister Joe was also present at the Presidential Palace Museum for the historical show prepared by the kids of Kanombe with their trainers, most of them dancers from Abatarutwa. Like last year it was a sublime show about the history of Rwanda till colonization, with even more participants and attendants. As a special guest I had the privilege to sit a while next to the freshly chosen Miss Rwanda and to show my rather limited skills in Rwandan traditional dance flanked by the honorable guests. I’m happy the camera only took the last, lost steps, all the more that the Abatarutwa dancers whom can be considered amongst the best of Rwanda had shown their spectacular style at the opening of the show. That moment, when you feel proud to have the privilege to work with them in urban… Urban? Yes we decided to use urban rather than contemporary at least for the moment…

Most of my days end here at home with the family at the dining table after analyzing the movies of my classes. And then… to bed because tomorrow is another ‘working’ day.

Yes I am settled.

Monday, December 8, 2014

En tout cas! (Anyway!)

Let me start this first letter with one of the fetish sentences from my hostess, Francoise; on reflection the catchphrase of a big part of the family and after giving it a deep thought I guess it’s the countries slogan… ‘In any event’. Anyway, whatever happens we do it, nothing can stop us!

This can better be my motto for the coming weeks also. I go for it and to illustrate what that means… After I landed between the hills last Thursday evening and after the traditional proceedings… dinner, unpacking gifts and finally taking up residence I had a rather quit day till the evening. The welcome from the family consists of a dinner at the swimming pool of a hotel enlivened with a band playing traditional Rwandan songs and embellished with traditional dancers and probably the most talented four year old little girl dancer ever seen. Rwanda has talent!

What is unimaginable in Europe and probably in most countries of the world, I have a meeting with the Ag. Advisor to the Minister/Director of Culture Promotion MINISPOC on Saturday morning at the Ministry to discuss my teaching program with the Abatarutwa company and to hand over my blueprint about professionalization of Rwandan dance ‘An attempt to move’ and the ‘Agaciro’ movie. This country has shortcuts between its leaders and its population and that is probably another part of the miracle that happens here every day since twenty years. One of the important results of this meeting is that I can teach again with the company in the Presidential Palace Museum in Kanombe, so we avoid all the useless displacements and loss of time we went through last year. We will probably organizing a showcase on January 4 in le Petit Stade at the Amahoro site in Kigali. Furthermore we intend to organize a meeting with envoys from the MINISPOC and the WDA (Workforce Development Authority) and a few specialists to discuss the blueprint and implementation possibilities.

Saturdays… wedding days and traditional dowry celebrations… you can’t escape them and certainly not when you are considered a member of the family. Thus it could happen that this muzungu was suddenly accused of having refused a visa to a honorable gentleman from the future brides family and I had to justify myself in front of both families. It was rather hilarious to become suddenly a part of the traditional negotiations. I invented myself a twin brother, a Dutchman even… and off I went, praised by my clan.

The day ended at the groom’s family were I finally met again, after almost five years, the man who is probably responsible for my deep commitment towards Rwanda and who made me read the most interesting books about the Genocide against Tutsi, Dr. Charles Rudakubana.

Sunday afternoon… visiting the staff of the Abatarutwa Troupe, Mbabazi and Richard. It’s good to talk to those two fantastic persons that I really admire because they are running this company as parents, taking care of the dancers as if they were their own children… btw three out of their four sons are in the company. It makes me feel humble and proud to serve their goals. There is so much love inside Rwandan homes. The same within the family of one of the dancers that I started to support last year because of her talent but also because of her widely acclaimed personality. As I wrote already several times, as an individual you can’t help everybody but if every single person in this world should help another one, this planet would look different.

Monday… ‘la grasse matinée’ there is no adequate translation for it but I was in bed till almost midday and in the afternoon preparing my first classes for the next couple of days, listening to music, some stretching, surrounded by the kids. Neither them, neither Francoise nor Egide, are questioning this odd behavior within their walls anymore, after all those years they probably got used to it.

Just went into Tuesday… sleeping time…. I’m here only four days back and it seems I never went away. Rwanda feels good. This family feels good. I have a message for the dancers and for all of us here…. Let the hills inspire you!