When sound becomes a collective force

Odile Gakire „Kiri“ Katese / Ross Manson / Ingoma Nshya / Volcano Theatre Canada / Woman Cultural Centre Rwanda

“Ingoma” means both “power” and “drum” in Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda. There, drumming was a royal ritual to honour the country’s history – and for centuries women were prohibited to take part. Years after the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, a group of women came together to start a healing process. They founded Rwanda’s first exclusively female – and thereby revolutionary – drumming ensemble. Together with soprano Ineza Mugisha and their founder Kiki Katese, Ingoma Nshya tell the stories behind their music.

Ingoma! was co-commissioned by: Edinburgh International Festival; ArtsEmerson, Boston; Perelman Performing Arts Center, New York (PAC NYC); University of Georgia Performing Arts and Luminato Festival Toronto.

Co-Produced by Volcano (Canada) and the Woman Cultural Centre (Rwanda) in association with Ndabaga Collective (Toronto).