21 November 2008

A Classroom Introduction of Rwandan Culture

A Guest Speaker gives a lecture in an Intercultural Communication class

By Shirley Ghozalli. Edited by Karine Chagne and Moira Blake.

Mr Kimenyi, in Rwandan national costume, accepting a gift from IPC lecturer Karine Chagne

On Friday 14th November, a guest speaker, Mr Joseph Kimenyi, came to IPC and gave a lecture about Rwandan culture to the Intercultural Communication class. Mr Kimenyi came from Rwanda to New Zealand in 1996. Currently he is working full-time at Massey University while studying part-time for a business degree at the same university.

Mr Kimenyi started the lecture by presenting Rwandan pre-colonisation culture such as its big family structure, the role of each family member, the importance of having a baby boy rahter than a baby girl, the importance of male status in the patriarchal community, and the joining of 2 families instead of 2 people in matrimony. These values changed during colonisation and are still changing afterwards, but in some rural areas they are still upheld and practised.

There was an interesting fact about the naming tradition. In Rwanda, the surname plus first name system is not known in traditional communities. There is only one name for each person. For example, Mr Joseph Kimenyi was born as Kimenyi. The name 'Joseph' was added later on when he was baptised.

This naming tradition also means that there is a rule that everyone in Rwanda has to know his or her ancestors' names for 3 generations back. So if there are 2 people with the same name, in order to identify themselves they have to use their fathers', grandfathers' and great-grandfathers' names after their own name. For example: Kimenyi of Mbonyumutwa of Semushi (Mbonyumutwa is Mr Kimenyi's father's name and Semushi his grandfather's).

The lecture attracted many interesting questions from the students. One of them was how Mr Kimenyi felt when he first arrived in New Zealand. Mr Kimenyi answered that he felt so alone because he didn't know anybody here. He also experienced culture shock and had some misunderstandings with his new friends because of cultural differences.

When questioned whether he preferred to go back to Rwanda or stay in New Zealand, Mr Kimenyi replied that he wanted to go back because he still had friends in Rwanda. "However, if I have to choose, I will choose (to stay in) New Zealand because of its good living in terms of security, peace and the opportunities for work and study" said Mr Kimenyi.

As one of the 52 countries in Africa, Rwanda is not isolated from the post-colonial problems, mainly political unrest and corruption. With an area covering only 10% of New Zealand's while the population is twice that of New Zealand's, it is very easy to create a large number of victims in a very short time in Rwanda. One poignant comment from Mr Kimenyi was "I think I won't be able to see peace in Africa in my lifetime".

Mr Kimenyi closed the lecture by playing some video music clips featuring songs and dances from Rwanda, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa and Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Mr Joseph Kimenyi giving a lecture about Rwandan culture to the Intercultural Communication class

<Back  |  ^Top