Embodying the "New Rwanda": Dance and Post-Genocide Reconstruction

Since reaching power by putting an end to the genocide, the Rwandan Patriotic Front has undertaken the project of constructing a new, de-ethnised and modern nation that, nevertheless, remains anchored in its cultural roots. This article examines the current revitalization of so-called traditional dances in Kigali. In particular, it highlights the way these practices contribute to embodying the project of a new national identity and explores in detail the transformations in the dances that are caused by the post-genocide state ideology. In order to achieve this, it focuses on the Inganzo Ngari troupe which currently serves as a model for the numerous other burgeoning troupes in the capital and is regularly invited to appear at government functions.