Intore

Intore means the chosen, and the dance was performed at the royal court by young men trained in warfare, who moved in lines with spears and shields, heads swinging headdresses made of long pale grass, to drumming from a row of ingoma drums. Women's dances, gentler and with arms raised in imitation of cattle horns, are performed alongside. UNESCO inscribed Intore on the Representative List in 2024. It is now performed at national occasions, weddings and for visitors.

What you actually see

• The headdresses - long pale grass worn by the male dancers and swung with the movement.
• The drum line - a row of ingoma drums driving the whole performance.
• The men's warrior dance - lines of dancers with spears and shields.
• The women's dance - arms raised in imitation of cattle horns, performed alongside.

When to go

Year round; performances are scheduled at cultural venues and villages. National holidays and Kwita Izina bring the largest displays. Weddings and community events are where it is least staged.

Honest expectations

Most performances visitors see are arranged for them and shortened. Quality varies enormously between troupes. Photography during community events should be asked about rather than assumed.

Nearby

Kigali has regular performances, and the cultural villages near Musanze run them daily.