Imigongo: A Rwandan Tradition

What is IMIGONGO?

Imigongo is an art form of painting which originated back in the 18th century in the Province of Kibungo (southeastern Rwanda). Kakira, son of Kimenyi, King of Gisaka was said to have invented the art of embellishing houses and making them more attractive. To decorate his inside walls, cow dung was used, in geometric patterns with prominent ridges. Then, the surfaces were painted in red and white colors made from natural soil (white from kaolin, red from natural clay with ochre), or else in shining black made from the sap of the aloe plant - ikakarubamba - mixed with the ash of burned banana skins and fruits of the solanum aculeastrum plant.

This art style almost died out in the mid 1990s; however today it is thriving and doing well; providing income for Rwandan women and their families. Imigongo artwork was (and is) mostly done by women – there are co-operatives today in Rwanda that keep the art form alive.

Take a look at these examples of traditional Imigongo patterns* below as reference: