Pot shard (1)Original Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
The history of craftsmanship in Rwanda
Artistic production in Rwanda has a long history. Woodwork, wickerwork, pottery, beadwork and imigongo were accompanied by a rich decor. Today around 150 individual patterns have been documented. Their names are meaningful but it is not always easy to know the meaning for all.
Bedshade (7) by Workshop of National Museum of RwandaOriginal Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Series of patterns
Rwandan decorative patterns vary in geometrical shapes including triangular, rhombus, square, trapezium, rectangular, zigzag, spiral, curved lines, oblique, parallel, and simple lines amongst many others. There are also combined patterns, and patterns without geometric forms.
Bamboo basket - ibaba rivunnyeOriginal Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Most common patterns: Ibaba
The triangular shape of the traditional decorative pattern termed ibaba looks like a bird wing when it is flying.
Imigongo artwork (1)Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Most common patterns: Itangaza
Itangaza, is a commonly used pattern and derives from the verb gutangaza which means to astound, be admirable or remarkable, attractive and, in this case, to become lighter, referring to the morning. In other words, the pattern is termed itangaza because it is much appreciated. It has a number of varieties.
Wicker plate (4)Original Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Most common patterns: Abashi
Usually used, the name abashi, plural form of umwashi, is a decorative pattern resulting from an analogy between its rhombus form and the shape of umwashi, a wooden device used in traditional construction, which is put on the top of the pillar to support the hut’s roof.
Partition (2)Original Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Most common patterns: Umuraza
Commonly used, the term umuraza means zigzag. A decorative pattern termed umuraza depicts a river which meanders. Its varieties are ubukokora and nyamuraza.
Wicker plate (1)Original Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Most common patterns: Ikibero
Ikibero means the human thigh. In Rwandan art, this word refers to a decorative pattern in basketry consisting of equal triangles aligned on a vertical side.
Wicker plate (45)Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Colors for making patterns
The colors repertoire used to ornate Rwandan traditional decorative patterns was limited. Black was the most used color, but the white, red, pearl grey and light yellow colors were also used. The black color is made with vegetable materials, whilst others were of mineral origin.
Common colors
To obtain a black color, one cuts the leaves of aloe vera leaves into pieces, puts their sap into a pot and mixes it with cow urine and leave it for 3 to 4 days. After this, the mixture of solanum aculeastrum fruits sap and ash of burnt banana peels is added.
Alternatively, a black color is obtained through mixing the soot with the sap of a banana trunk or that of phytolacca dodecandra plant.
Other colors used in traditional patterns such as the red (red soil), white (kaolin), pearl grey, and the light yellow are obtained through a simple crushing of minerals into water.
Modern basket (1)Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Contemporary basketry
Today Rwandan decorative patterns are multicolored, but the designs remain the same, although there may be slight modifications due to new techniques. Local craftsmen progressively enrich the classic repertoire of colors with new ones such as green, violet, blue and many others.
Content development: Andre Ntagwabira, Yvette Tuyishime, Jerome Karangwa & Chantal Umuhoza (Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy)
Curatorial layout: Chantal Umuhoza
References
1) Institute of National Museums of Rwanda, 2019. Traditional Decorative Patterns
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