Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Chosen Ones


"The body of a man is very small compared with the spirit that inhabits it".
AFRICAN ORAL TRADITION


Dance in Rwanda is instinctive and its roots stretch back through the centuries.

We had just had a good look around the National Museum in Butare. It contains a beautiful collection of exhibits on Rwandan history and culture. Outside the museum were a line of drums. I wondered up to them and started photographing. I had no idea what a treat had been planned for us as we were led around the back of the building to a stage area.


We were about to see one of the finest examples of Rwanda's traditional and dynamic dance styles.

The Intore Dancers have been dancing for centuries. At the time of the monarchy, before the arrival of the Europeans, the Intore Dancers at the royal court were selected young men who had received a privileged education and choreographic training in order to entertain their masters and to perform at special functions. The name intore means 'The Chosen Ones' signifying that only the best of them were chosen for this honour.


Traditionally their performances consisted mainly of warlike dances, such as ikuma (lance), umeheto (bow) and ingabo (shield), in which they carried authentic weapons. In the 20th century dummy weapons were substituted, the dances were given peaceful names and rhythum and movement (rather than warfare) became their main feature.


It is always interesting to ask at the end of a trip what the highlight was for each person. The answers are always so varied. We all have such different ways of seeing, according to our nature.

For me, these 2 hours spent watching and photographing the Intore Dancers was a complete turn on.

They were inspirational, but why so?

Words, once again, are inadequate.

I can only say that once they stepped onto the stage they were free spirits and took on a god-like quality.

Total involved, totally present and totally in tune. Their bodies pulsed to the beat of the drums and the sound of the women's voices. It was an honour to watch them as they bathed in their own spirit. They shared themselves so openly and naturally.

Confident, strong, dynamic but at the same time so delicate. One felt drawn right in to their celebration.


That's what it was really - a celebration of spirit....

No comments:

Post a Comment