Intango Cultural Night, is the newest event in town that focuses on showcasing delicious Rwandan cuisine and dishes, many of which have rich history in Rwanda.
The monthly event held at Park Inn Hotel, is not just about food, it is a journey into the heart of Rwanda’s culinary heritage and the people are loving every bit of it.
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Traditional dishes with a touch of Gakondo culture were quite diverse. People enjoyed roasted sweet potatoes, beans, unpeeled potatoes and cooked sorghum commonly known as ‘Impengeri.’
They also tasted dishes like banana, pumpkin leaves, tomatoes, and roasted meats from cow, goat and fish. Desserts included cakes made from sorghum flour and bread was even crafted from sorghum and many more.
The meals are prepared using locally crafted tools such as ‘Imbehe’, clay pots, baskets and clay cooking pans. To quench their thirst, people sipped drinks like ‘Urwagwa’ made from sorghum flour and ‘Umutobe’ made from Banana juice mixed with other local ingredients.
Some of the of the dishes that spoke volumes about Rwanda’s culture and tradition, were the combination of ‘Isombe’ -Pounded cassava leaves mixed with meat, boiled cassava mixed with beans, sweet potatoes mixed with ‘Isogi’, banana mixed with pumpkin leaves ‘Ibisusa’, maize mixed with beans, to mention but a few. All of the dishes and drinks were rich with nutrients, safe and healthy.
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Emmanuel Ngayaboshya alias ‘Chef Emma’, the mastermind behind the initiative believes that ‘culture’ and ‘cuisine’ are deeply connected everywhere in the world.
"Whether you are in France, America, Italy, China or any other place, people take pride in their own traditional dishes. Much as they can enjoy other types of food, their own culinary heritage always comes first but unfortunately, in our country it is a different case.”
Chef Emma emphasized the importance of preserving and cherishing culinary roots. He said that it is so embarrassing when foreigners visit the country and expect to try local dishes, but very few or no restaurants and hotels are able to prepare such food. "This makes Rwanda seem less unique,” he said.
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The event took an awesome turn when the legendary Jean Marie Muyango took the stage performing his iconic song ‘Karame Uwangabiye’.
"I believe that Rwandan cuisine has all elements to make it truly special and worth exploring. I encourage everyone to embrace and enjoy the wonderful tastes of their own heritage,” the singer said.