{"id":2000111073,"date":"2026-05-05T14:05:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T12:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000111073"},"modified":"2026-05-05T16:19:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T14:19:52","slug":"how-inkingi-arts-space-became-a-home-for-kigalis-creative-talent-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/how-inkingi-arts-space-became-a-home-for-kigalis-creative-talent-video\/","title":{"rendered":"How Inkingi Arts Space became a home for Kigali\u2019s creative talent (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Founded by self-taught Rwandan artist Olivier Kwitonda, Inkingi goes beyond the idea of a traditional gallery. As its Kinyarwanda name suggests, it is a \u201cpillar\u201d, a space built to support, connect, and elevate artists across disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking of a gallery or a center,\u201d Kwitonda told IGIHE during a visit to the space. \u201cI was thinking of an arts space, somewhere every art form could meet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, that vision is alive. Inkingi hosts more than 25 artists, primarily from Rwanda but also from across Africa, including Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burundi, and Sudan. The diversity is intentional. Collaboration is at the heart of what makes the space unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The art space features artworks from dozens of creatives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kwitonda\u2019s path to founding Inkingi was anything but conventional. Born in 1987, he discovered art early, sketching in school notebooks and on blackboards, even when it got him into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was expelled once for drawing the headmaster,\u201d he recalls with a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without access to formal art education after high school, he carved his own path, visiting local studios, learning materials, and slowly building his craft. He worked through established spaces like Yego Arts and later Niyo Arts Centre, gaining experience not only as an artist but also as a manager and collaborator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the idea of something more personal never left him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter COVID-19, I couldn\u2019t sleep with my ideas anymore,\u201d he says. \u201cI needed a space where I could create freely and also bring different artists together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That idea became Inkingi Arts Space, officially launched in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Olivier Kwitonda says Inkingi Arts Space, as its Kinyarwanda name suggests, is a \u201cpillar\u201d, a space built to support, connect, and elevate artists across disciplines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A space where art forms converge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What sets Inkingi apart is its openness, not just in layout, but in philosophy. Unlike traditional galleries focused solely on visual art, Inkingi welcomes multiple forms of expression under one roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the space is primarily active with painters and visual artists on a daily basis, it expands into a multidisciplinary platform through its Inkingi Open Mic sessions, held once a month. During these gatherings, poetry, storytelling, live music, and traditional Rwandan cultural expressions, such as proverbs and riddles, come together in a shared creative experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t find many places that bring all these talents together,\u201d Kwitonda says. \u201cThat\u2019s our uniqueness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The space also serves as a bridge beyond Rwanda\u2019s borders. Visiting artists regularly collaborate on exhibitions and workshops, strengthening ties across the continent. One such collaboration involves a Zambian artist, David Daut Makala, who runs Studio 225, highlighting Inkingi\u2019s growing international reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makala, considered a renowned artist in Zambia and beyond, is set to hold his second solo exhibition, opening on May 8, 2026. The IGIHE team met him hands-on as he prepared for the show, which focuses on what he describes as the \u201cGeography of Knowledge.\u201d He has gained recognition for his versatility across various mediums, including sculpture, painting, printmaking, digital art, and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy hosting different workshops, trainings, and exhibitions, it has helped Inkingi grow, not only as a space, but also in supporting artists to grow and receive mentorship,\u201d Kwitonda says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Inkingi hosts more than 25 artists, primarily from Rwanda but also from across Africa, including Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burundi, and Sudan. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Art as memory, healing, and responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Kwitonda, art is deeply tied to Rwanda\u2019s history, particularly the Genocide against the Tutsi. His earlier works, such as In the Deep Sorrow, reflect on loss, memory, and human responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a call for people to think before harming others,\u201d he explains. \u201cTo imagine: what if it were you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This philosophy extends into Inkingi\u2019s programming. During this year\u2019s annual commemoration period, the space organised a visit for young artists to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, encouraging reflection and dialogue through art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about learning from the past,\u201d Kwitonda says, \u201cso we can create work that builds peace and protects the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gorilla artworks at Inkingi Arts Space highlight one of Rwanda\u2019s premium tourism offerings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nurturing the next generation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond exhibitions, Inkingi plays a critical role in mentorship and education. The space regularly hosts workshops, trainings, and internships, particularly for students from Nyundo Art School, Rwanda\u2019s primary institution for formal art education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some interns stay on as resident artists, gradually becoming part of the collective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy proudest moment,\u201d Kwitonda says, \u201cis seeing young artists grow here, seeing this space become a home for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sense of belonging is key. In a country where art is still often seen as inaccessible or expensive, Inkingi is helping shift perceptions. More locals are attending exhibitions, engaging with artists, and beginning to see art as part of everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople say art is expensive,\u201d Kwitonda reflects. \u201cBut they forget, it\u2019s priceless. You\u2019re buying someone\u2019s soul, their time, their sleepless nights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though still young, Inkingi Arts Space is already making its mark on Kigali\u2019s cultural landscape. And Kwitonda\u2019s ambitions stretch far beyond its current walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next five years, he envisions it as a training center. In the long term, he imagines something even bigger, a museum-scale institution contributing to Rwanda\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt should be huge,\u201d he says with quiet confidence. \u201cA place that stands alongside the country\u2019s museums and tells our stories through art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, Inkingi remains grounded in its original purpose: a space of freedom, collaboration, and growth. A place where Kigali\u2019s creative talent doesn\u2019t just pass through, but finds a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the full video below for an inside look at Inkingi Arts Space in Kacyiru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n