Umuganda makes perfect sense for cross cultural understanding

The intense scrutiny with which some Rwandans especially in rural areas look at white people can be annoying and irritating to say the least. Writers and leaders have tried time and again to control the gazing culture with which Rwandans-Africans especially rural folks look with keen interest whenever a white person appears. The setting was perfect, the crowd ideal for me recently to try to understand or see clearly why, social cultural clashes between two entirely different people can cause, sometimes bordering on total humiliation. It was during the recent Umuganda activities in Rubavu district, where many of Kigali’s stakeholders in the fight against malaria in Rwanda. There were, in no particular order, local Baturage (residents) from deep in the mountains of Ruhengeri, some along the border between DR Congo and Rwanda. Others were city executives from Population Services International, USAID, government officials, journalists and security officials. There were also members of the entourage that was traveling with Hollywood star Ashley Judd. The mix up of the crowd, gave the perfect setting for Umuganda. Thousands of Rubavu residents, mayors, and Nyangamugayo set off at Nyundo neighbourhood to participate in building a model home for vulnerable families in the district. Having their hands full with Genocide survivors, child headed families; Rubavu district leaders also face a geographical nightmare. The region has suffered from floods-as recent as December 2007 that displaced thousands as tents before reaching Gisenyi testify. The rainy season makes life in the area even more complicated as a river that cuts through Rubavu and Nyabihu districts overflows. The area for that reason has its fair share of vulnerable persons in the country, and it also made perfect sense for Umuganda. The population of Rubavu which boarders around 300,000-among the most highly populated 33 districts in the county was joined by employees and officials from PSI-an American firm that commercially distributes most condoms in the country, National Malaria Control Programme and some members in the entourage that was traveling with Hollywood superstar Ashley Judd. For good measure even the minister of Health Dr. Damascène Ntawukuriryayo was part of the crowd of masons, porters, painters and wheel barrow pushers were working on finishing touches of the impressive houses. Ashley Judd’s entourage who were filming a documentary for her charity group known as FiveAlive was participating in Umuganda. An incident happened as Umuganda progressed as some of the Americans enjoyed a day out digging. A certain lady picked up a machete from one of the folks slowly forming a crowd round her. A friend of hers with a camera a few yards away saw some irony in the machete wielding lady and decided to take a picture. The machete wielding lady posed for a photo with her machete and made facial gestures to scrutinizing onlookers, who looked to be enjoying the whole scene that was not peculiar. The machete lady then held it and hoisted it and made dramatic poses with it that left none of her fellow Americans that she was referring to the infamous use of the machete during the 1994 Genocide. The incident was ironical because the houses that the visitors were building were to be given to one of the vulnerable persons in the area! The next week, I was even able to see it closer when I witnessed the embarrassment of a little kid who pinched an American out of obvious curiosity. That particular incident happened on Monday evening while I was having a roadside chat with an American colleague in the neighbourhood of Kimihurura. This little kid came from behind us, and with no ceremony pinched the American, the kid then jumped as if to escape.The American playfully pinched back the kid and later he told me it was normal for little children to stop on the way and just stare with amazement at him. Once I heard a story that a black person could be an attraction in certain places of the Nordic region, I found such incidences very offensive, and exaggerated. Till that Monday evening. Both incidents left me with insights of the subtle differences between Africans and their visitors from more developed societies. When Africans visit developed societies, they are first overwhelmed and intimidated by the high level of technological growth. Visitors to Africa from richer nations are amused by the backwardness and sometimes brutality of Africans, and that way, they are allowed the permission to be innocent, to be patronizing and insensitive to anything, yet even the Africans are, as the poor little kid proved just as insensitive! Ends