Once I hear people say a woman is difficult, my first picture is always a woman who understands boundaries, knows herself and carries herself accordingly, won’t be a doormat and stick to her standards. I will always choose being a difficult woman over being a foolish woman.
And honestly why does everyone keep saying “this debate this debate” why is my body being a debate?? I woke up with extra sadness my heart is so heavy 💔
And at the end of the day, sha, we will remember how our nation failed a million of women. You really really broke our hearts in ways that can never be forgotten.
Dear @RCBrwanda
If as a country we have standards, it wants visitors and citizens to respect, those standards should be communicated clearly before people arrive to the entertainment places. Good regulation should prevent conflict, not wait for conflict and then respond to it.
The movie, music and broader creative industries have their own cultures and norms around fashion and artistic expression. Some forms of dress considered normal within the global entertainment industry could potentially fall within what our laws or social norms describe as indecent, particularly where clothing exposes intimate parts of the body.
At the moment as a country, we are increasingly positioning Kigali as a destination for major international artists, celebrities and creative-industry events. This raises an important policy question: do we have a deliberate mechanism for ensuring that visiting artists understand Rwanda's laws and expectations before they arrive?
For many international artists, certain forms of dress are part of their professional environment and may not be considered controversial where they come from. We should therefore not assume that they automatically understand the Rwandan context.
This is where policy needs to be proactive rather than reactive. Rwanda should consider developing a clear protocol for international artists, promoters and event organizers. Before contracts are finalized, organizers could provide visiting performers and their management teams with concise guidance covering relevant laws, cultural expectations, performance requirements and any restrictions that could affect their appearance or stage production.
Importantly, such guidance should be written, predictable and applied consistently. Artists should not discover expectations through enforcement after arriving in Kigali. Event promoters should also carry responsibility for ensuring that contracted performers are briefed beforehand.
This is not simply a cultural question; it is also about reputation and risk management. The global entertainment industry is powerful, highly networked and supported by influential agents, promoters, international media and digital platforms. A misunderstanding involving a major international artist could quickly become an international story and create an unnecessary PR challenge for Rwanda.
As Kigali positions itself as a destination for international conferences, sports, entertainment and creative industries, our regulatory approach must evolve alongside that ambition.
The objective should therefore not be confrontation between cultural values and artistic expression. It should be regulatory clarity, predictability and early engagement.
If we have standards, we want both citizens and visitors to respect, those standards should be communicated clearly beforehand. Good regulation should prevent conflict, not wait for conflict and then respond to it. @RDBrwanda@RwandaYouthArts
I sit quietly and realize that God has been taking care of me this whole time, maybe not in luxurious ways, maybe not with an easy life. But through protection, provison, good health, surviving hard days and always having just enough to keep going.