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King Baudouin I of Belgium gifted Rwanda its first museum, The Ethnographic Museum, which opened in 1989. Dedicated to Rwandan heritage, it preserves and showcases the country's cultural treasures.
Ethnographic Museum by National Museum of RwandaRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Designing the museum
Architect Lode Van Pee drew inspiration from Rwanda's rich culture, weaving traditional motifs from wickerwork and pottery into the brickwork patterns of this building complex.
Ethnographic Museum's roof by Rwanda MuseumsRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Roofs designed with culture in mind
The building's roof mirrors Rwanda's hilly landscape from the front, while its sides echo the unified rhythm of a traditional drum ensemble Umutagara w'ingoma.
Bank note - 1000 by National Bank of RwandaRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
The museum: An icon on the 1000 Rwandan Franc note
The National Bank of Rwanda introduced a bank note with the museum-printed design in 2007 to cherish and valorize Rwandan heritage housed by the Museum. The bank note in the image was issued by the National Bank in 2019.
Pottery section by Rwanda MuseumsRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Spanning 2,700 sqm, the museum's permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through Rwandan history, showcasing the country's geography, archaeology, and the rich cultural practices that have shaped its people for centuries.
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The Ethnographic Museum garden
The museum's indigenous tree garden showcases plants traditionally used for medicine, tools, and more. Visitors can even learn about intangible Rwandan cultural heritage through stories connected to these trees.
KambereOriginal Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Traditional homestead at the museum
Traditionally, Rwandan homesteads comprised two circular structures: a hut and a surrounding compound. Both had entrances aligned for easy surveillance. The image showcases additional buildings and granaries within the compound.
Urugangazi Cultural troop
The museum's ballet preserves the intangible heritage and entertains museum visitors
The traditional handicraft centre
Recognizing the importance of community, the museum established a training center in 1997. This initiative not only empowers local residents with valuable skills, but also ensures the preservation of traditional Rwandan knowledge for future generations.
Exhibit Curator: Chantal Umuhoza/ Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy.
Exhibit layout: Chantal Umuhoza/ Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy.
References
Kanimba Misago Celestin & Lode Van Pee , 2008. Rwanda It's Cultural Heritage. Past and Present
