Imigongo Tour: The tour introduces our visitors to the unique modeling and paintings called IMIGONGO literally meaning backs or back in singular; developed by the Rwandese society long time ago around 1500 years by Prince Kakira the son of King KIMENYI of Gisaka kingdom part of the great Rwandan kingdom in current eastern province. Kakira invented the idea of embellishing and making more attractive art designs for decorations in the houses. They use cow dung from calves and mix it with ash and then make different designs ranging from the back of elephant, elbow designs to mention but a few. The designs come from their memories reflecting different things or items etc in memory of the designer. They have over ten different designs with well documented interpretations. The colours used come from natural soils and plants for instance white comes from kaolin, red from natural clay soil, the black colour from the sap of the aloe plant – Igikakarubamba mixed with ash of peeled banana and solanum aculeastrum plant – Umutobotobo. This type of art craft is very unique and only found in Rwanda. The other important part of the tour is that, it’s helping in maintaining this culture from where it originated since we discovered that this cultural practice of IMIGOGO was fading out in the community but after introducing the tours, the community members are now getting back to their traditional art craft practices as it helps in preserving the culture, provide incomes to the members of the community as we try to widen the market for their products and it’s part of the employment pillars in the village. Most of the members of the association totaling to fifty are widows following the tragedy of the genocide in 1994.
