august2014
35
RWANDANRHYTHMS
andperformance. Asmall €5,000grant from thePrinceClaus
FundmeantGatesecouldbring inprofessional drummers to
teach thewomenwhowanted to join the troupe.
Gatese,whocalled thedrumminggroup IngomaNshya–
meaningnewdrum–wanted tohighlightwhat ispossible in this
newera. “Peoplesaid tome: ‘Youandyour IngomaNshya! It’snot
reallyabout drumming.’ And I said: ‘I know!’”Gatesehasadevilish
twinkle inher eye.
FormanyRwandans, it isextraordinary to thinkofwomen
drumming.WhenHyppoliteNtigurirwa, ayoung journalist from
Kigali, first saw thewomendrumat aperformanceat the
university in2009, hewasshocked. “I remembered from
childhood theoldmen inmyvillage, theonlyonesplayingdrums
inceremonies,”hesays. “When I saw thewomen Iwassurprised.
But also impressed. Theyperformedwith real artisticability.”
At theTheatredesVerdures, thewomenhavebeenplaying
non-stop for anhour. Afterwards theychangeout of their golden
robes intobright kanga-print dresses, skirtsandshirts, tight jeans
andT-shirts. Assomeput onmakeup, othersgather their things
and fix their hair.Manyof thesewomenaresurvivors:widows,
mothersandchildrenof perpetratorsand thosekilledduring the
darkdaysof 1994. After conflict, roadsandbuildingscanbe
rebuilt, but howdoyou rebuildbrokenhumanbeings?
ClementineUwintije, adynamic26-year-oldwithashort afro
whowas leadingmanyof thepiecesat today’spractice, is
passionateabout drumming. “When I’monstageandpeopleare
watchingmeperform, I get real strength,” she tellsme. I askhow
her family feelsabout her drumming. “At first therewereat lot of
problems,” shesays.
Her fatherwaskilled in 1994andhermotherwas toosick towork.
Evenso, shewasnot ready togiveupdrumming. “Youknow, life is
difficult andwithout thesedrums, thingswouldbe…”She isquiet
forawhile. “If Idon’tdrum, Idie,”shesayssimply.Uwintijewalksan
hour andhalf intoButare from thehousewhereshe liveswithher
mother andher small baby. “Mymother couldn’t understand. She
said: ‘This isnotwork, thisbrings innomoney.’”Sheshrugs.
Clockwise fromabove: IngomaNshya’sbandpractice is full of exuberanceand
joy; groupmembersMediatrice,ClementineUwintijeandMartha take turnsbeing
leaddrummerduringpractice; IngomaNshya founderOdileGakire ‘Kiki’Gatese
