Villagers celebrate! The women are performing a dance called gushyayaya, using their arms to imitate the graceful horns of the Rwandan cow. Cows are cultural icons in Rwanda. For instance, it is a compliment to say to a beautiful woman the Kinyarwandan phrase “máaso y’íinyána,” meaning, “You have the eyes of a calf.” The white headband (urugori) on one of the dancers indicates that she is a young married woman who has recently given birth.

In the left foreground, people bring drinks, including buttermilk (amachunda) and banana wine to the seated group. The standing women offer gifts in the agaseke, while the women at the right sit and eat on traditional furniture. Behind them to the right, two women hold a drinking vessel.

Price: $1400