A Rwandan wedding is an all-day and night event, so I had to pace myself to make it to the end! But it was one of the most joyful cross-cultural events I’ve ever had the pleasure to be a part of. The presentation and appreciation of the two cultures coming together made for a lovely day!
Weddings have always been an important part of Rwandan culture since they represent the joining of two families. To learn more about the traditional stages of Rwandan weddings (both before and after the big day), check out this website.
Yes! Throughout Rwandan history and culture, including weddings, cows have been an important symbol of wealth, power and beauty. Today, one of the best compliments you can receive in Kinyarwanda is “ufite amaso y’inka,” meaning “you have cow’s eyes”--it means you have big, beautiful eyes. The movements involved in the traditional dance intore are often compared to the movements of the royal cows (inyambo), where their long horns are represented by the dancers’ arms. The inyambo are a special breed of cow found in East Africa that often lived at the King's palace in Nyanza, Rwanda. You can still visit the inyambo at the King's Palace Museum today and learn more about Rwandan history and culture prior to colonization. Additionally, the dowry (money or items given to a bride's family during wedding negotiations) used to be exchanged in cows. For example, a groom's family would give the bride's family one or two cows.
