This is because if they fail to communicate with their father, they may miss out on the wisdom passed down from their grandfather.
However, some aspects of this culture can be misunderstood, especially by outsiders.
For instance, at weddings these days, it’s not uncommon to see many young people dancing and celebrating while the older generation observes from the sidelines. This may seem unusual to some, but it’s simply a reflection of the importance placed on showing respect to elders in Rwandan culture.
The Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Rwandans’ Unity, Human Rights and Fight against Genocide, Veneranda Nyirahirwa has said that elders expressed concerns over children excluding them from family celebrations.
She revealed this to IGIHE after the Plenary Session of Parliamentarians endorsed a report of the committee on the analysis of how rights for people in advanced ages are respected taking into consideration the current laws and policy.
The report was presented by Parliamentarian Nyirahirwa.
She explained that members of the committee interacted with citizens across the country where some of them disclosed that they do not get along well with the youth.
MP Nyirahirwa said that the exclusion by the youth or their families is among problems that frustrate them.
“One thing that struck us during our observations was the intergenerational living arrangements of the youth and elders. Some elderly individuals told that that they were excluded from family events, such as weddings,” she said.
“Nyirahirwa noted that there are situations where aunts or uncles are reduced to mere spectators due to the younger generation’s inclination to prioritize their own enjoyment, such as capturing attention-grabbing photos,” added Nyirahirwa.
She explained that such a situation has devastating effects to the culture and the society at large.
“Given that we begin to involve only the age group in the organization of celebrations, it apparently leads to their exclusion like the youth claim that people in advanced ages do not make pictures colourful. This is not the purpose for their presence, they participate to uphold the family’s bond,” observed Nyirahirwa.
“This helps people to preserve culture and know their origin and pass on their lineage to their children. However, celebrations only involve the youth, future generations may lose their sense of cultural identity. Therefore, it’s important to respect our elders and preserve Rwandan culture. Integrity is about respecting the elderly,” she added.
The parliamentarian urged the youth to take care of their parents, emphasizing that parents should never be a source of shame but rather a source of pride.
She also urged the youth to proudly present their parents during celebrations, as a reflection of the love and care they have received throughout their lives.
{{Depriving elders of their properties }}
Among other observations, members of the parliamentary committee on human rights said that children or family members deprive elders of their properties.
“Elderly people often lack the physical or mental ability to keep up with complex legal processes and may have limited literacy skills, leaving them vulnerable to fraud and deception related to the content of land titles.”
MP Nyirahirwa suggested that the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) should prioritize taking care of elders to ensure they live a dignified life.
“In some families, children wish their parents would die so they can take possession of their properties. Others cheat them while they are still alive. Moreover, they sometimes lack the strength to manage their properties, making it easier for young people to take advantage of them and hoard the income from those properties,” she stated.
MP Nyirahirwa highlighted the issue of mismanagement by young people of cooperatives for the elderly. She pointed out that such cooperatives are often run by young people who fail to manage them properly.
The parliament is expected to summon the Minister of Local Government, who oversees citizen development programs, to elaborate on the various programs that have been established to care for the elderly in the near future.
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