"Ceremony Held for the Departed in Rwanda", or "Ritual Honoring the Absent in Rwanda"
Artist Dorcy Rugamba Lays Tribute to Family Lost in Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan playwright and actor Dorcy Rugamba returned to the tragic topic of the Tutsi massacre with a new performance, "Hewa Rwanda, letter to the absent," at the Festival TransAmériques (FTA). The intimate memorial piece, performed in Kigali last year, honors Rugamba's family who were brutally murdered at the start of the genocide.
Based on his book of the same name, Rugamba's "reading-performance" offers a poignant reflection with poetic undertones. While some passages were excluded for the scenic version, the piece seeks to reaffirm the importance of memory in the collective healing process.
The sequence of events leading to the brutal deaths of Rugamba's parents and six siblings by soldiers highlighted the emotional intensity of the performance. Calmly yet powerfully, Rugamba paid tribute to his humanist father, poet and choreographer Cyprien Rugamba, and his mother Daphrosa, who sacrificed her professional aspirations to care for her children. Rugamba acknowledged the invaluable influence they had on his life: "I have never had anything that I do not owe to them."
A heart-wrenching portrait of the twelve family members was displayed as a backdrop in the theater La Chapelle. The black-and-white image transformed into color as Rugamba recalled his cherished memories of his loved ones, only to return to sobriety when recounting their assassination.
Despite the heavy subject matter and lost joys, "Hewa Rwanda" (the wind of Rwanda) did not weigh heavily. The theater piece emphasized life over death, thanks to the adroit musical accompaniment of the acclaimed Senegalese singer-songwriter Majnun. Together, they crafted some captivating incantatory chants, transforming what could have been a somber event into a ritual of communion, celebration, and remembrance.
Background
Dorcy Rugamba is a prominent aficionado of memory, trauma, and identity themes in his work. He has played an essential role in projects that shed light on the consequences of the Rwandan genocide through art. Collaborating with other renowned African authors, Rugamba has used his creativity to process and share these profound experiences. His dedication to using art as a means of addressing historical trauma is evident in his involvement with initiatives organized by the CEC.
- Dorcy Rugamba's influence in the realm of pop-culture extends beyond Rwanda, as his work on memory, trauma, and identity resonates with celebrities and global audiences, making a significant contribution to the discourse of modern culture and lifestyle.
- The aftermath of the Rwandan genocide is not only a historical topic for books and documentaries, but also a source of inspiration for fashion-and-beauty, with some designers integrating poignant references to the event in their collections, paying homage to the lost lives.
- Rugamba's play transcends the world of entertainment and has become a vital tool in the education sector, serving as a resource for teachers to introduce the tragic events of the Rwandan genocide in a sensitive and enlightening manner, fostering a deeper understanding of this crucial period in world history and promoting empathy among students.
