Is Rwanda Africa’s Next Art Capital?

Inside the lobbies of some of Rwanda’s finest hotels are “imigongo” art pieces, an historic art form made using cow dung that’s traditionally made by women. Local folklore has it that imigongo was developed by a member of the royal family, Prince Kakira, in the late-18th century, to decorate the interior walls of his house. The craft was almost lost in the widespread devastation of the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi. Revived by a women’s cooperative in the eastern region, the form has made a resurgence. These unique pieces can be found hanging in coffee shops and hangouts across the country, alongside innovative modern pieces.

The bold colors and modern works of today’s Rwandan artists represent a new movement in the country. The founder of Ingazo Arts Center, Epa Binamungu, says of the period before the genocide, “Art wasn’t as powerful back then and there were few artists.” Binamungu has been in the industry for 50 years, making him one of the oldest and most respected artists in the country. “Artists before the genocide used what was within their means, like bark cloth. Today, they think beyond what’s around them and use their imagination,” he says.

Founded in 1952, L’ecole d’Arts de Nyundo was, for many years, the country’s only art establishment. It started as a workshop for artists and performers and became a school in 1963. Graduates were recruited to teach new students. “Before the school was started, it was a struggle to acquire information about art. A few lucky people managed to access art books, which were scarce. Even the libraries of universities had very few art books, yet borrowing them was prohibited for anyone who wasn’t a student,” Binamungu recalls.

In 2022, art and daily life weave together easily in Rwanda. Traditional art influences modern-day life, as at the Kigali Convention Centre, an iconic landmark in the capital whose beehive-like form imitates the inside of the King’s Palace. But the Convention Centre, which opened six years ago, is only the beginning of this country’s artistic turn.

Daddy Ishimwe, professionally known as Daddyisme, specializes in acrylic and oil painting. He is also a skilled muralist and some of his work adorns museums and cafe walls. With murals, he says, Rwandan artists “have reached a large audience and brought their art closer to people.” In addition to providing visibility for their work, murals also offer artists a chance to earn decent wages, as one mural can go for about Rwf 800,000 to Rwf 1.5 million (roughly US$780 to $1,460), or more. Ishimwe says painting a mural can take from a day to a week, and notes that local businesses benefit from the creativity of artists like himself as commissioned murals beautify their workplaces.

In 2019, in Kigali’s Innovation Village Gallery, painter Gretta Ingabire gave a two-week solo art exhibition called “Spoken Art.” Her style combines influences from the abstract to the semi-realist. In an interview with OZY she described her artistic process. As she imagines what to transfer from her mind to the canvas, she focuses on the empowerment of women and what they contribute artistically and socially. “Exhibitions are the fire that stirs the energy of artists,” she says.

Inspired by animated movies and comic books, digital artist Mugisha Kayitana says the country’s digital art scene is developing quickly. In his own work he centers his love for nature and for birds in particular, which he renders in rich color. “There are many brushes to use when creating a digital painting,” he says, noting that making digital art can be less expensive than traditional forms such as painting. In an article published in The New Times, digital artist Benjamin Tuyishime said digital art in Rwanda is on the rise because of the growing number of talented and tech-savvy youth.

KomezArt, a virtual art space under the umbrella of Rwanda’s preeminent public arts organization Kurema Kureba Kwiga, was designed to gather the country’s top artists and open pathways for them to reach new audiences. “We represent the best of contemporary art in Rwanda from acrylic paintings on canvas to digital designs printed on modern materials, as well as photographic prints and sculptures,” says Judith Kaine, an American art enthusiast based in Kigali and the founder and director of Kurema Kureba Kwiga and KomezArt. The space started out with just 15 artists and now represents more than 70.

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It can be hard to change the mindset of a society that has long believed art is for foreigners, or that art cannot be a profitable career. However, the rise of art schools and other facilities has encouraged many would-be artists to try their luck and pursue their dreams. This has nourished the growth of an increasingly broad network of versatile artists in Rwanda.

While there is much to celebrate in Rwanda’s art scene, challenges still abound. Painter Gretta Ingabire says there is a dearth of female artists due to traditional notions of the types of work women should do. “I think it’s something that will take time,” she says. “With art exhibitions boosted, maybe more women will be compelled to join.” Meanwhile, contemporary artist Jean-Marie Vianney Munezero — whose work has been described by The New Times as calling “for order in this crazy world” — says one of the challenges artists face is limited access to high-quality materials due to financial constraints.

“We struggle with a range of issues,” says Kaine, whose organization shows art virtually. “A lot of people still want to physically interact with an art work, they want to touch it and see it, step back from it or step closer to it, and physically engage before making a purchase.” Even as KomezArt has made works available to far-flung audiences via the Internet, Kaine says they struggle to gain visibility with art buyers beyond Rwanda.

“We are partnering with international galleries to host exhibitions, and participating in international art fairs. In February this year, we exhibited at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, the biggest in Africa. In September, we will exhibit six artists at aKAZI ATL in Atlanta,” said Kaine. aKAZI is an international effort that curates contemporary and innovative art and design from creative hubs across Africa such as Dakar, Accra, Lagos, Maputo — and now, Kigali.

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