Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda – Explore Rwanda’s Cultural Heritage in Huye

The Ethnographic Museum is open throughout the year, except on public days such as Umuganda, when it opens from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. On April 7th, it is completely closed. This is why visitors are advised to double-check before planning a visit.

This important museum is one of the six museums that make up the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda. It was previously called the National Museum. It is the largest museum in Rwanda and is located in Butare, about 35 kilometers from the center of Kigali.

If you are interested in learning about Rwanda’s history and politics, the Ethnographic Museum is a good place to visit. It holds many important stories, including the sad story of Queen Dowager Rosalie Gicanda, the wife of the Rwandan king, who was killed during the genocide. This tragic event claimed the lives of many Tutsi people. Since the king belonged to the Tutsi monarchy, everything connected to the tribe was also targeted.

The land where the museum stands was a gift to Rwanda from Belgium’s King Baudouin I. Today, it covers 20 hectares of land, including native plants and a traditional craft training center. The museum building itself covers 25,000 square meters and contains seven well-designed rooms. These rooms show the way of life of the Banyarwanda people, from the old days to modern times.

To help you understand Rwanda’s background, the museum provides books in English. The exhibits also have labels in English to help guide your visit. For local visitors, there are also books written in Kinyarwanda, which can be bought before you leave the museum.

Each room in the museum has something different:

• Room One displays handcrafts from both the past and present. Some items are available for sale.
• Room Two focuses on Rwanda’s environment, geography, and land features. It shows the different regions and the people who live there.
• Room Three presents the traditional occupations of Rwandans.
• Room Five shows the styles and methods of traditional Rwandan building.
• Room Six displays the different games and sports enjoyed in Rwanda.
• Room Seven shares traditional poetry, both spoken and written, and explains the beliefs of the local people.

The Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda gives visitors a deep look into the old ways of life in the country. Because it is a popular place for tourists, it is best to book your visit in advance.

If you want to tailor your tour by adding more days or destinations, please reach out to us through our main contact page using the button below.