Rwanda, Ejo at Chaillot
In spring 2024, the Théâtre national de la Danse – Chaillot dedicated an entire weekend to contemporary Rwandan creation. Titled “Rwanda, Ejo”, the event was not an isolated showcase, but the visible outcome of two years of collaboration led by choreographer Dorothée Munyaneza, an associate artist of the institution. A look back at the project’s origins, the role of its artist-curator, and the concrete outcomes that emerged from it.
The origins of a collaboration
The story of “Rwanda, Ejo” began well before the Paris event in May 2024. This Chaillot Expérience was part of a collaboration with Rwanda initiated in May 2022, developed in close partnership with Dorothée Munyaneza, a Franco-Rwandan artist associated with Chaillot since 2021, and the Institut français de Kigali.
The project grew from the creation of the performance Umuko and led to several initiatives focused on artistic training and transmission. It also extended Dorothée Munyaneza’s long-standing work with young Rwandan artists in Kagina, which she has developed since 2009 through musical and choreographic research.
Dorothée Munyaneza, artist and curator
At the heart of the project, Dorothée Munyaneza, associate artist and curator of “Rwanda, Ejo”, created a multidisciplinary programme bringing together Rwandan artists and members of the diaspora.
“Ejo”, meaning “yesterday and tomorrow” in Kinyarwanda, reflects her desire to connect memory and contemporary creation. Through this project, she celebrates the vitality of a young generation of Rwandan artists whom she has followed and supported for many years.
Concrete outcomes
A multidisciplinary weekend at Chaillot
From 15 to 18 May 2024, “Rwanda, Ejo” took over the Théâtre national de la Danse – Chaillot with a multidisciplinary programme bringing together artists from Rwanda and the diaspora. Dance, music, literature, cinema, visual arts and fashion came together to highlight the richness and vitality of contemporary Rwandan creation.
Umuko, a collective creation
A central piece of the programme, Umuko is a creation by Dorothée Munyaneza bringing together five young artists from Rwanda’s current artistic scene: Jean-Patient Nkubana, Impakanizi, Michael Makembe, Abdoul Mujyambere and Cédric Mizero.
Inspired by the name of a healing tree connected to the choreographer’s childhood in Rwanda, the piece combines singing, inanga music, traditional dances and contemporary writing, creating a dialogue between cultural heritage and current artistic practices.
Toi, moi, Tituba…, Dorothée Munyaneza’s solo
Alongside Umuko, Dorothée Munyaneza presented her solo Toi, moi, Tituba…, created with musician Khyam Allami from texts by Elsa Dorlin and Maryse Condé. The work explores questions of memory, identity and transmission through the figure of Tituba, a woman whose story has been erased from history.
A programme rich in encounters
Beyond the performances, “Rwanda, Ejo” also featured concerts, exhibitions, workshops and literary events. Audiences discovered, among other highlights, a concert by singer Teta Diana, a photography exhibition, and discussions around literature, including the work of Gaël Faye and his novel Petit Pays.
The artists gathered around the project
The programme brought together, around Dorothée Munyaneza:
- Jean-Patient Nkubana, musician and inanga player
- Impakanizi, dancer and singer, carrying traditional dances and songs
- Michael Makembe, musician and performer
- Abdoul Mujyambere, dancer and choreographer
- Cédric Mizero, multidisciplinary artist (fashion, image, performance)
- Teta Diana, singer
- Khyam Allami, musician and collaborator on Toi, moi, Tituba…
- Visual artists presented through the weekend’s photography exhibition
The event through the artists’ perspective: the Journey Podcast episode
The impact of “Rwanda, Ejo” extended beyond Chaillot through an episode of The Journey Podcast, hosted by Rwandan creative Manzi Mbaya and recorded in Paris on 18 May 2024.
Featuring several artists and contributors to the project, including Michiel Robberecht, Natasha Muzira, Miriam Birara, Shema Gaetan, Abdoul Mujyambere, Jean-Patient Nkubana and Moses Turahirwa, the episode reflects on their experience of the event and offers a direct perspective on its influence within Rwanda’s creative scene.
A milestone in a lasting collaboration
Far from being a one-off event, this Chaillot Expérience represents a milestone in a long-term collaboration involving the theatre’s teams and built on prior initiatives such as professional training, cultural outreach and creative residencies.
Through this project, Dorothée Munyaneza offered audiences a new perspective on Rwandan culture, combining memory, transmission and the celebration of a vibrant contemporary artistic scene.
This article was written by Manzi Mbaya Abdoul Hakim for the Institut français de Kigali.