Will Rwanda’s culture stay put?

Rwandan visitors, have always been mesmerized by the flamboyant cultural dances they treated to during their visit into the country. Dance is just one component of the diverse and pleasant Rwandan culture, that has won regional and international recognition. Rwandans have prided in their strong culture, which has proved resilience against all odds, its endurance has not been a result of meticulous cultural preservation mechanisms like documentation or organised anthropological studies, but an inherent construct that is almost instinctive. Question are raised based on fears whether, Rwanda’s culture will remain intact even after joining the East African political federation, which will bring with it diverse cultures from the different countries. The different people The New Times talked to on this issue expressed divergent opinions. Patrick Kainamura, a carpenter in Kabeza, said the fact that the Rwandese culture is going to intermingle with other cultures; it will definitely be compromised and diluted hence losing its purity. This possibility cannot be ruled out completely, because some cultural components like the language, food; some customs and beliefs; can be compromised by other cultures over time given the social closeness, as people interact in their social and political lives. James Kamali, a lecturer, reasoned that the cross cultural integration that is poised to come with the East African Political Federation, should not be viewed with pessimism. He pointed out that people are going to get a chance to learn different cultures such as language, food, and other beliefs, which could unfold into opportunities more so if they add value to our local culture. For instance he gives an example of the culture of good customer care as a lesson Rwandans will learn and benefit from. He raised the possibility of other cultures being encroached into (by Rwandans) while still holding onto ours. When asked what can be done to achieve this Kamali pointed out that Rwandans should only pick progressive and prudent cultures from the other East African cultures and ignore those that do not add value to their lives and society. Every society or region, viewing from the historical perspective has always had a significant culture or way of life, which distinguishes it from others, for instance the exquisite Brazilians carnival done every year, in which people dance on the streets is being emulated in some places. Kenyans are known for their shrewdness and fast thinking when it comes to reaping out of an economic opportunity, for them to be inclined this way, certain aspects have shaped them, much to the benefit of the EAC. The EAC will come with the free mingling of people within the region, an opportunity for the citizens to learn through their diverse cultures ways of picking out the best, as a way of rebranding the regions image. Ends