The woman of the house has set out food in a double bowl with spoon (center), and sorghum beer stands ready to be drunk from a terracotta pot (left); extra straws hang from a basket above. These culinary tools are as important to Rwandans today as they were for hundreds—likely thousands—of years. We can imagine that she ground manioc or corn with mortar and pestle while she sat on her chair (the intebe). Spoon and gourd ladle are at the ready near the striped shield (the ingabo), a symbol of protection. She used the small ingasire and the larger urusyo grinding stones (center) to turn sorghum into flour for the beer.
Inquire About this Artwork