Kakira, son of Kimenyi the King of Gisaka, created the skill of adorning homes’ interiors to make them more aesthetically pleasing for habitation around the start of the 19th century while he was residing in Kibungo Province, close to the boundary between Rwanda and Tanzania. The art was dubbed “Imigongo” by him.
These days, a number of artist cooperatives have supplanted the conventional art form by creating smaller embellishments on wooden items. In the same location where Kakira originally invented the art, Kaziba Village, Kirehe District, is home to Ikora Imigongo Kirehe, a cooperative that makes Imigongo on a regular basis.
Using natural materials, such as soil, kaolin, banana peels, and cow dung to form the structure of the house painting, Kakira created his designs for houses. This tradition is continued by Ikora Imigongo Kirehe, who uses natural materials to produce each artwork that is sold (albeit certain paint colors are purchased from stores).
The natural dirt was used to prepare the red color in the past. A kaolin was used to make the white. Black was created by combining the fruit of a nearby plant, banana peel ash, and aloe plant sap. Additionally, clay soil gave the area its pale orange hue.
Ikora Imigongo Kirehe is a cooperative made up of neighborhood farmers who like painting and producing Imigongo Traditional Art.
Although Imigongo is sold by a number of cooperatives in Rwanda, not many artisans are skilled in its creation.
The term Ikora Imigongo Kirehe means “preserving culture,” and that is precisely what they hope to achieve through their artistic endeavors.
Ikora Imigongo Kirehe’s families used to work from home; they lacked a workshop where they could produce or sell their artwork.
They currently operate a workshop in the Eastern Province’s Kirehe District’s Kaziba Village, in addition to a few markets around Rwanda, such as Azizi Life near Gitarama.
The artists have many Imigongo designs available for purchase and extend a warm welcome to any visitors to their shop.
Additionally, you may see the artists at work at the shop and have a hands-on experience!
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