RWANDAN YOUTH in Perth, Australia are organising a virtual discussion during which they will get an opportunity to learn more about Rwandan history so as to keep the Rwandan culture alive among its people, especially the young generation, living in different parts of the globe.

 Dubbed ‘Amateka Series’, the project was conceptualized by Rwandan youth currently living in Perth, Australia as a way to connect virtually during the covid-19 lockdown and to also encourage them to learn about the different aspects of Rwandan history.

 The project started in October last year, with support from the Rwandan community abroad in Perth, to bring together the youth from Perth, New Zealand, and connect them to the Rwandan Embassy in Singapore, Ministry of Youth and Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

 "We created a program, which acted like a curriculum, that had various topics ranging from how communities came together to pass down knowledge and values in Itorero to Rwandan cultural celebrations like Umuganura” said Linda Iriza, one of the organisers.

 At the beginning of every month, participants focus on a topic, conduct independent research and, at the end of the month, they present the findings and discuss them during the virtual discussion.

"The most crucial points that came out of these discussions were around how we, young people, can carry these traditions forward,” Iriza added.

The inaugural series edition brought together different speakers including historian Clotilde Umubyeyi, performing artist Hope Azeda, fashion designer Moses Turahirwa and poet Ines Giramata Amata among others.

 Each of them gave insights on the history of Rwandan art, dance, women and much more that was discussed during the previous edition.

With the support of young Rwandans in Perth, the project now has a committed team which is the brains behind the 2021 program in order to extend it to more young Rwandans across Australia, New Zealand and other Asia-Pacific regions.

 Iriza told The New Times that, through Amateka Series, the initiative seeks to build a foundation for Rwandan youth rooted in knowledge of their history and culture which will be done through the curation of experiences that nurture a culture of collective learning.

"With the growing interest of young Rwandan youth across the globe willing to learn more about their history, we are starting our 2021 program which has bi-monthly virtual history discussions and workshops. So not only will we learn from knowledgeable panels but we will also have opportunities to apply the learned knowledge,” she explained.

 The bi-monthly program kicks off on February 6, with a virtual conference under the theme ‘The Genesis of Rwanda: As told through many stories’.

 On the panel will be State Minister in charge of Culture at the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Edouard Bamporiki, celebrated musician Mariya Yohanna Mukankuranga as well as Paul Niyonzima, a Rwandan youth member who lives in Perth.  He is also part of the Amateka Series team.

Minister Bamporiki welcomed the idea and said that it’s the Rwandan embassies’ responsibilities to identify requests of Rwandan youth from abroad and help them successfully access whatever is connected to Rwanda.

 "We have a generation that has the same understanding about our history but there is also a number of young people who really want to know the history of our country and it’s know that they are hungry to learn about our country’s history from its foundation till now,” Bamporiki told The New Times in a telephone interview.

  "It is our and it is their country and they every right to it. So we are ready and happy to respond to their request and interact with them about this important conversation. We hope more youth from other countries will join this good cause so that they get to know the culture of Rwanda and its history in all aspects,” he added. 

Though the virtual conference was started by Rwandan youth living in Australia, Iriza revealed that it is open to all Rwandan young people from different parts of the world and urged them follow such an important and interactive’ conference.  

 "We would love for all young Rwandans across the globe to join in learning this knowledge and archiving it,” she said.

 The event will be graced by culture artiste Jules Sentore, who is expected to share stories of pre-colonial Rwanda through music and dance.

 The virtual conference will also be followed by a virtual dance workshop that will teach youth in the diaspora how to tell the stories through traditional dance as part of the practical take away from the conference.  

 All the work resulting from the ‘Amateka Series’ discussions is digitally archived to be part of the crucial history, culture and art of Rwanda.