Members of the media fraternity are, since yesterday, gathered at Nkumba, Musanze District in the Northern Province to take part in Itorero, a traditionally-based civic education programme that disappeared during colonization.

During the older version of Itorero, the youth converged in one place to learn cultural values that helped build a cohesive society. It was a formative training for future leaders.

Participants trained in various aspects; military warfare, dancing, singing, social relations, taboos, eloquence, patriotism, poetry and many other aspects of Rwandan values. It was more or less similar to old European finishing schools and academies.

Modern-day Itorero is designed on a similar platform but tailored and adapted to fit social groups and professions. Trainees are encouraged to explore and discuss their particular fields in order to improve them by confronting challenges and seeking remedies.

In the last few years, members of the media took similar opportunities to discuss with stakeholders issues relating to their profession and how to build and strengthen their environment. Many progressive policies and laws were, as a result, of those interactions.

The national Itorero has come under fire from those who act out of ignorance of what is at play, they try to give it shallow interpretations disregarding the fact that the country’s remarkable progress is credited in part to adapting positive traditional customs and programmes to solve our problems.

It is our hope that members of the media will come out of the retreat with more vigour to confront challenges in the profession and at the same time reconnect with our rich culture.