Rwandan, Belgian museums restore ties

HUYE – The visiting Director General of the Royal Museum of Central Africa-Tervuren, in Belgium, Guido Gryseels, has revealed that the museum is keen on rekindling the 20-year relationship with the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR), which had ceased after the 1994 Genocide. During a visit to the National Museum of Rwanda on Thursday, Gryseels noted that it is through this relationship that the INMR, inaugurated by King Baudouin in 1989, was constructed. “We want to renew our strong collaboration with the INMR. We would like to work with Rwanda to renew this museum; we would also like Rwanda to renew our museum,” Gryseels said in Huye District. He said that part of the new cooperation would include training Rwandan scientists working with the museum.“We think that this museum is extremely important for understanding the history of Rwanda and understanding the riches of its culture so it is important that it keeps receiving strong support. The Royal Museum of Central Africa will do everything to ensure that it remains the most beautiful museum of East Africa,” he added. The Royal Museum of Central Africa has a collection of ethnographic objects from Central Africa, Rwanda inclusive. According to the INMR Director General, Alphonse Umulisa, an exchange of antiquities will also be discussed. “There are a number of antiquities that would beef up our Museum. We in Rwanda could probably borrow some of these antiquities for teaching purposes so that Rwandans can rediscover their heritage,” Umulisa said. As a sign of renewal of this cooperation, Gryseels extended an invitation to his Rwandan counterpart to attend a major conference due in Belgium in December. Ends