The daughter of a General.
I learned of General Bayingana before I met him. I was told that in the formation years of the Rwandan Patriotic Front he was a political commissar, which meant that his job was to teach liberation ‘Kitamaduni’ cadreship to those who wanted to adhere or had freshly joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front.
The best way to join the RPF is to go through the cadership training. Today the syllabus is well structured with levels; one, two and three, etc. At its inception however, there was not didactic material, it was all based on personal research and passion.
Back then, elders were shocked how such a young man knew so much Rwandan history, so much pan-Africanism and was so ideologically clear on the purpose and strategy of the liberation of Rwanda. So in my research on Rwandan history, they told me about him and I set out to meet him.
When I met the general I was impressed by his humility and sense of humor. He’d just been appointed to a new job and his colleagues were pulling his leg that a known Marxist like him, was now heading a bank – the military bank. This is class suicide! they said to him jokingly.. Bihorere ntanguzanyo nzabaha, (I won’t give these guys a loan) he simply answered…
I was impressed by his vast knowledge of the Rwandan culture, history, governance, geology in the smallest of details. He knows up to the names of the places, the trees and the plants that grow there. He knows the spirituality, he spoke to me about the hidden places of traditional worship in Ruhengeri, he showed me some rare trees. Spending time with him, as it is with all Rwandan Generals, is immensely edifying.
But this story isn’t about the father, it is indeed about the beautiful daughter, the most beautiful this year! And a contender this week, for Miss World, in San Ruan, Puerto Rico!
Obviously she is so young and I do not know much about her, but I saw videos of her dance, she is very talented. Writing this piece, I saw her speak too, she is smart and kind, she is well raised.
When I first learned who were her parents, I was impressed that they supported her in her Dancing passion.
This is important! Dance can change the world. In 2007, Ivorian and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba ended a 5 year civil war in his country, Cote d’Ivoire by scoring a goal that helped them win a match against Madagascar and qualify for the world cup. He asked that the game be played in Bouake, a rebel stronghold, then got on his knees & pleaded with rebels to lay down their weapons, and they did. Bob Marley did the same in Kingston with his music.
This young lady is an example to young people to follow their passion, and to parents to support them. Most parents think sociology, law, architecture and medicine are the only subjects their children must learn. They do not observe their children to understand where their passions lie; they do not ask them. I am glad Ingabire’s parents did and supported her to be an inspiration to many young girls in Rwanda and beyond, and who knows, perhaps her dance will make us love each other more, in this fast-moving city of ours where people do not smile so often..
I encourage you all to support her bid for Miss World 2021, by various ways below:
Miss world website:
- Click this link: https://www.missworld.com/#/contestants/5847
- Create an account and login to your account.
- Search for “Grace Ingabire”.
- Scroll down and click”VOTE FOR ME”.
Mobstar:
- Download @mobstar_official now for free on your play store or app store.
- create an account and login to your account.
- Follow @Grace Ingabire or @Miss World Rwanda.
- Vote by liking each and every post.
- 1 like = 1 vote.
Facebook/ YouTube/ instagram and twitter:
To show your support through other social media platforms, mention Rwanda in the comments especially on YouTube for the head to head challenge.
Links:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/ht-JuuXYBao
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissWorld/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missworld/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissWorldLtd