Belgium hands over Rwanda’s colonial-era songs

Belgium’s ambassador to Rwanda has handed over a digital copy of traditional songs, music and stories recorded during colonial rule to officials in the capital, Kigali.

It includes more than 4,000 recordings made since 1954, mostly by former Belgian officials which have been kept at the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Belgium’s capital, Brussels.

“This is the first step, we expect more materials and objects of our heritage from Belgium,” an official from Rwanda’s cultural heritage academy told BBC Great Lakes.

Belgian forces occupied Rwanda, which had been part of German East Africa, during World War One.

The repatriated recordings will be placed in a museum where members of the public will be able to access them.

These materials will help to “educate and inspire Rwandan youth in our traditional music and arts”, the official said.

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