For lifelong learners, everything is a teacher, and each observed moment can leave a lasting lesson. If you pay close attention to some entertaining actions like dances, you can see that it is beyond the moves that bodies make. I find Rwandan traditional dances fascinating in a way. From graceful movements of ladies to fierce, energetic jumps of gentlemen, one deciphers some hidden messages and bags of treasured values.

Imishayayo, which are graceful displays of beauty and elegance, are not only limited to exhibitions. They send a message of resilience, alertness, and self-love that are innately instilled in Rwandan women. Umuhamirizo, which is the energetic strategic jumps of dancing gentlemen, not only shows fitness but also strength in battle, ruling the territory as lions. Through traditional dances, Rwandans showcase their values and responsibility to guard their country. Here are some lessons I learned from Rwandan traditional dances:

Smile, no matter what. All the dances women make are so hard, and they require energy, but instead of showing expressions of tiredness, they choose to paint their faces with smiles, and with that, they entertain their audience. I learnt that I should smile, no matter how exhausted I could be.

Live in the moment but always be alert. There are moves where one looks in the opposite direction from where her body is heading. It shows the alertness of checking their area of operation, something that happens in the battle. I learned that one should always be alert because this life is full of surprises.

All in all, those moves teach me to absorb every moment and allow myself to soak in the experience each day brings. With dances, you are reminded that everything in life, especially values, should be taken seriously. In enjoyment, you should stay alert and still remind yourself of your purpose. I will just end this with, “Always know who you are, what you are, and who you represent.”