Rwanda’s royal Inyambo cows celebrated with poetry, music and cultural rituals

Inyabo cows are Rwanda’s cultural heritages. PIC\X@AMAZlNGNATURE

A flute here, a line of poetry there. Such is the daily treatment of Rwanda's royal cows that have become living symbols of the nation's cultural heritage.

With their long and crescent-shaped horns, the Inyambo cows graze at the King's Palace Museum in Nyanza and at the homes of some of Rwanda's richest people, including President Paul Kagame. "They're not for milk, they're not for meat. They were just used as decorations around the palaces," said museum curator Bigira Junior.

The cows are pampered with melodious poetry describing their beauty. This is believed to calm the cows where they are presented to visitors or during traditional ceremonies. "Remember, they are to be loved and cherished, and you can't love something from afar. You have to get close to it," Junior said.

Their beauty also shapes traditional dance in Rwanda, with graceful movements performed by women who extend their arms to mimic the cows' horns. "The dance is more or less a way to portray the beauty of the royal cows," Junior said.

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