It was a showcase of unique Indian dance forms and music as a delegation of visually impaired girls from India entertained guests at Nobleza Hotel in Kicukiro on Friday night. The 12 girls, from The Pragati Andha Vidyalaya in Badlapur and St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) in Mumbai, India, are on tour in Rwanda as part of a ‘Rwanda Calling tour.’ The visit is organised by Rwanda Renaissance, an organisation that promotes tourism, cultural and investment liaison between Rwanda and India. Friday’s was the first of a series of performances that the girls will be staging in the country until August 29. During their one-hour performance, the visually impaired girls displayed exceptional vocal and dance abilities under the theme; Disability is Not Disability. The show attracted members of the Indian community resident in Rwanda, media, Rwandan friends of India and local visually impaired persons. Clarence Fernandes, the Chairman of Rwanda Renaissance explained that the visit of the Indian performers was aimed at encouraging and motivating visually impaired and differently abled children and youth in Rwanda to always strive for excellence in spite of their disabilities. “The recent visit to Rwanda by Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has certainly given India-Rwanda ties a great boost and it is our firm belief that the governments of both countries, together with the private sector will further strengthen these ties, leading to unprecedented levels of engagement between the two nations,” he added. Dr. Alivera Mukabaramba, the Minister of State in Charge of Social Affairs and Social Protection described the initiative as a great way to encourage visually impaired and differently abled children and youth in Rwanda to realize that disability is not inability. This sentiment was further echoed by Edouard Bamporiki, the Chairman of the National Itorero Commission, when he said: “The theme, disability is not disability is most appropriate and the skill with which these girls perform, only goes to show that where there is a will, no matter what, there will always be a way.” The performances followed a similar visit by visually impaired boys from the Happy Home School for the Blind in Mumbai in April this year for Kwibuka 24. They staged commemorative choral performances at the Grand Legacy Hotel, during the official commemoration event at Amahoro Stadium, and at St. Michael Cathedral in Kigali. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
