Ingoma Nshya

2021 | Acrylic, Stretched on Wood Frame

The artist pays tribute to "Ingoma," an instrument played in Rwanda on festive occasions or to welcome an important guest. Drums are very special in Rwandan culture, as they also signify ruling power. In Kinyarwanda, the word Ingoma is used for both drum and reign/regime. Some specific types of Ingoma were used as the emblem of the Nyiginya dynasty that ruled Rwanda until 1962. The artist pays tribute to this great legacy using modern found materials for future generations to see; the earth tones represent the drum’s connection to the natural world.

See more artwork by Umuhire Isakari