Another ancient, home-baked custom has been resurrected and incorporated into our society.Urugerero was part and parcel of Rwandan culture, where young men left their families to heed the calling of the state.They built a strong lasting bond with their peers in the national service that sometimes ended in a blood pact, where one was ready to lay down his life for his colleague and vice versa.The initiation into Urugerero was not only a rite of passage into manhood; it was also an expression of the high esteem and inherent pride the students had in their country. They learnt the virtues of patriotism, family values and Ubupfura (a cocktail of all the positive virtues) which they would aim to instill in their off-springs.While the current generation, and several before them, might not feel a strong attachment to the ancient culture, the initiative by the national Itorero Task Force to reintroduce this age old culture of patriotism, has hit the nail on the head.There is need to bring the so-called dot.com generation back to earth, away from consumerism, winner-takes-all and egotistical culture that is the order of the day.A true patriot puts the best interests of their country and nationals above self, though this can prove to be a tall order today.Like other homegrown solutions that faced an uncertain future when they were first unveiled, Urugerero will light the patriotic fires in the hearts of the young generation.
