A new cinema promises more than movies

At the beginning of last month, Beau Kalinda and Alyce Nkesha Mutamuliza opened Intsinzi 4 Lifestyle Showbiz Cinema Hall at St Paul’s church in Kigali. As film lovers, the couple found it surprising that there was so little on offer for those looking for the ‘big screen’ experience. Beau Kalinda said the cinema hopes to fill a need for all those who have been wondering where to go for entertainment. “Nothing beats the big screen,” enthuses Mutamuliza. And so they decided to do something about it. Money was the first obstacle. The couple needed enough money to rent and refurnish the church hall. After selling their jeep the couple pooled Frw6m. They were one step closer to fulfilling their dream. “We found the people from the church very accommodating indeed,” explains Mutamuliza. Having previously been used for the occasional wedding party or conference, the hall under went a serious facelift. “The seating was already there but in very bad condition. I found material and redid the lot,” explains Mutamuliza. The final product is impressive with comfortable seating for 250 and a proper sized screen with surround sound. Films from around the world and of all genres will be shown for a modest sum – Frw500 for students and Frw1000 for all others. But this is no ordinary cinema. The screen itself sits at the back of a stage. The multi-purpose hall is also a theatre. “Intsinzi has got everything we need to entertain,” Kalinda explains. As well as showing films, the hall will also be used for chat shows, motivational speeches and talent shows. The space is designed to stage concerts, dance performances and theatre productions and provide an environment to host business discussions. Believing that Rwanda was endowed with many talented people, Kalinda wanted to provide a place for them to work. “People who make a living entertaining others have enormous problems. Here in Rwanda, only few local singers can afford for an album launch and this could explain why most of them in the country are still surviving on a lower profile.” Intsinzi, meaning ‘success’, is a place for entertainers to work without having to worry about the cost of renting a hall. “We pay them little money to come and entertain others,” says Kalinda. “In a bid to move the entertainment industry to another level of film industry similar to that of Nigerians and Americans, we have started promoting our young up coming singers, comedians, cultural dancers, poetry writers and story tellers.” “With the help of a centre like Intsinzi many people who move in town from place to another with guitars singing to different people can easily be transformed into serious singer,” says Robert Muvunyi, who rents and sells DVDs in Kigali. He further says that people prefer listening to international music not because we don’t have good local people but because these people can’t afford the cost incurred in music production. Kalinda, himself a professional motivational speaker, also wanted to put his own skills to use. Motivational talks are given every Sunday. “If the common economy is tough, it’s even tougher for ordinary people and entertainers too, therefore Intsinzi wants to be a connecting place for people with ideas and skills to enable people amend their business in a successful manner,” says Kalinda. Chat shows will host accomplished businessmen keen to share the tricks of the trade. The couple’s ambitions do not end here. There are also plans to introduce a Kinyarwanda cultural dance school. “We want to help many Rwandans who grew out side Rwanda and some foreigners who have a passion for our cultural dance,” says Kalinda. “We have acquired skilled personnel, traditional and cultural instruments required to properly teach the dance,” he said confidently. He said that most people don’t want to approach already formed troupes but want a formal and standardised environment in which to learn. While the couple’s aim is to entertain, there’s also more complex thinking behind the initiative. Kalinda believes that the space will provide a place for Rwanda’s traditional culture to develop as a crucial part of building a new national consciousness. “It’s one of the main elements of building up and changing people’s lives and country’s identity,” he said. The new cinema is likely to be a great asset to Kigali’s leisure scene. “We have been saved from loitering around searching for entertainment places, as the only alternative have been going to substandard wooden cinema halls around the city suburbs,” says Agnes Mukaneza, a university student at ULK. For more information visit: www.intsinzi4lifestyle.com