Ingoma!:
A Revolution in Rhythm

A JOYOUS EXPLOSION OF DRUM, DANCE AND SONG FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED INGOMA NSHYA: THE WOMEN DRUMMERS OF RWANDA

In Rwanda, the word for “power” is the same as the word for “drum”: "ingoma". This show features the music of a group of women who joyously, and with determination, discovered their own power – and became some of the best drummers in the world.

The Project

In 2004, in a country still contending with extreme trauma, a group of Rwandan women broke a centuries-old taboo against women being allowed to even touch a drum. Overcoming incredible odds, Ingoma Nshya (New Drum/New Power) is now recognized as one of the most exciting drumming ensembles anywhere.

This is a concert that pays musical homage to their story. A story of overcoming. A story of using joyful disobedience to change what future girls are allowed to dream of. A story of passing a torch to a new generation the world over.

Ingoma!: A Revolution in Rhythm is a spectacular storytelling concert that features both classic and new music from across East and West Africa. Two women - one older (Kiki Katese) and one younger (Ineza Mugisha) - are the audience’s guides through an evening that features the towering talents of Ingoma Nshya, The Women Drummers of Rwanda, and the solo voice of extraordinary Rwandan Canadian singer, Ineza Mugisha.

THE TEAM

Ingoma!: A Revolution in Rhythm is being jointly produced by the Woman Cultural Centre (Rwanda) and Volcano (Canada). It is written by multiple award-winning Rwandan writer, performer, and founder of Ingoma Nshya, Odile Gakire “Kiki” Katese, with direction and co-creation by Canadian Theatre Director Ross Manson, and music composition by the women drummers of Ingoma Nshya.

It is a follow-up to their previous collaboration and global hit, The Book of Life (Edinburgh International Festival, Spoleto USA Festival, Ubumuntu Festival Kigali; Canadian Stage Co. Toronto; and 6-city tour of the USA).

THE DESIGN

The live performance onstage will be accompanied by a projection design of beautiful hand-cut, hand-animated shadow imagery, crafted by acclaimed Canadian papercut artist Kristine White, assisted by Rwandan Aurore Katese.

In the same way that the women drummers have broken a patriarchal taboo, by claiming space in the male world of drumming, so, too has Kerunen claimed space for East African women in the world of fine art – a world that has long labelled women’s artmaking as “craft”. Kerunen collaborates with primary artisans to produce the woven, dyed, and hand crafted materials that she then moulds into large-scale installations. Her mission: to demonstrate that “fine art” has been alive and well in the hands of women for millennia. Kerunen will work with Canadian designers Patrick Lavender and Kaitlin Hickey in adapting her installation art to the stage, and lighting it theatrically.

Set and costumes are being created with traditional Rwandan textiles and methods to achieve a blend of both ancient and ultra-modern - a reflection of the trends present across today's East Africa.

Donations

These women, and this show, has a enormous potential for positive impact on girls and women, regardless of where they live.  Please click here to support:

OUR PARTNERS

Volcano wishes to acknowledge and thank our co-commissioning partners:

Volcano wishes to acknowledge and thank our funders:

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. We would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario.Produced with the support of the City of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council.