Inteko Izirikana, an association of retired elderly people in Rwanda whose mission is to educate young Rwandans about the country’s culture, marked its 20th anniversary in a grand party, on December 8.

Although a full-fledged NGO in 2003, Inteko Izirikana was founded in 1997. Its key goals remain history and culture preservation, and Kinyarwanda language promotion. Only three of the 12 founding members are still alive.

The anniversary celebration was marked by different cultural activities including dancing, poetry, Inanga playing, and modelling to show the evolution of fashion in Rwanda. Participants shared traditional meals and drinks that include umutobe, ikigage, isogi, and intagarasoryo.

Inteko Izirikana’s Chairperson Sylvie Murekeyisoni Kalisa said that the main reason for the anniversary celebration is to honour the ancestors to whom the country owes its existence.

"We also wanted to educate the old and the young about Inteko Izirikana, and to transfer our knowledge on heritage to young people, with emphasis on the importance of community, and values and norms that are based on culture,” Kalisa said.

The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, who echoed the remarks, started his speech with the song ‘Ikivi’ by the late Cyprien Rugamba. He requested that the members of Inteko Izirikana start writing their stories because future generations will need to learn from them.

"We wish that your testimonies and stories inspire research. Among the 12 founding members, only three are still alive. It is possible that the ones who left us don’t have their history written, their knowledge, and more. Those who remain, let us work together to write and record your knowledge and history so that future generations benefit,” Bizimana noted.

Inteko Izirikana’s projects include books, media talk shows, trainings, and partnerships with different institutions that promote Rwanda’s language, culture, and history education.