Author: Nadia Lobti

One recent Wednesday, I found myself wandering through Nyandungu Eco-Park. The workday had wrapped up; somewhere in the madness of the week, July had given way to August. The sun hung lower in the sky, its light almost enshrouded by tall grass and trees, while the sounds of chirping birds and crickets blended into the background like a song on endless repeat. A woman perched precariously on the steps by Pond Kivu, her nose buried in a book. As I made my way toward the southeast corner of the park, a few benches caught my eye —perfect not just for…

New internet businesses seem to pop up every few weeks in Rwanda, each claiming to revolutionize some aspect of the market. Araka, however, is one to be taken seriously. Launched in January this year, the company is already operational in four countries: Rwanda, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya.  Given its success in less than six months, it plans to expand to even more African countries in the near future. Over the past few decades, information technology has revolutionized the private sector, significantly boosting productivity.  Araka assists businesses in transitioning from traditional methods to digital platforms, optimizing processes, improving efficiency, and…

Even with digitalization sweeping much of the world, the connection between businesses and their target markets in Africa has often been complex, bound up in miscommunication, miscalculation, and the occasional mismanagement. So, through a network of business partners and friends on the continent, Stéphane A. Marques and Inès Debets, founders of Vugana, a communications agency based in Rwanda, recognized that the country’s tinkering startup ecosystem could benefit from their services. In an interview with SENS, Mr. Marques said: “Actually, my first job in Rwanda was to help out a friend. And then it became apparent that many other companies need…

Is there really anything better than a lazy weekend? Reading the paper in bed, sipping coffee, scrambling an egg or two? If you’ve enjoyed these moments before, they’re about to get even lazier now that it’s summertime. There’s something about the heat that amplifies relaxation. We’re definitely out sideee all summer, but on those days when the living is particularly steamy, we’d rather swap the sweaty mess of the outdoors for a good book or three. Two SENS editors have handpicked eight must-reads for the next few months in our eclectic and not-at-all-comprehensive summer book preview. So, if you’re on…

Decorating a home is fun. Okay, well, except for the constant need to dip into your pockets. But don’t you just love picking out cute items to enhance your space, rearranging for comfort and practicality, and then simply soaking in the beauty of it all? I’ll tell you what I love even more: decorating my space for the season. We like some consistency in our lives, but we also don’t want things to become monotonous and boring. Making small changes to your home can have a positive impact, especially if they align with the season, even if just for the…

The fashion world is as fickle as any other industry. Trends come and go, often dictated by larger shifts in public opinion, and right now, the ‘old money’ fashion look is in: think monochrome dull-colored hues, oversized tailored pants/ shorts, white tees, and dress shirts. The OG fashionistas might call it the go-to look for the boring and lazy, but honestly, that’s exactly why I love it. It’s low effort but looks like I put a ton of effort into it. What more could I wish for? I’m not about to spend time trying to look runway-ready every day. Life’s…

Thirty years ago, Interahamwe militia, under the direction of political leaders, perpetrated a devastating genocide in Rwanda, targeting the Tutsi minority with killings and violence over a period of 100 days. But RPF-Inkotanyi, the liberation movement that ended the genocide, ensured that history would not define Rwanda’s future. They put an end to the horrors this month three decades ago and ushered in a new era of peace and harmony. Today, Rwanda, like any nation, is still deeply flawed and error-prone, but terrorism is no longer a major concern in daily Rwandan life. Those born within the past 30 years…

The founder of Our Past Initiative discusses why, 12 years later, their mission remains relevant and weighs in on the effectiveness of art compared to other forms of media for commemoration.

Nineteen-year-old Queen Kalimpinya was reeling in disbelief. She had come to oversee her friend’s participation in a beauty pageant from the rugged world of outdoor games where she felt at home as one of the guys. But as slender women adorned in full-faced makeup gracefully paraded on stage, Kalimpinya, once just a spectator, now stood among them. Never in a million years would she have thought she would be a contestant in the Miss Rwanda 2017 competition. After each round, she would often leave the stage, laughing incredulously at the unexpected turn of events. She carefully selected her outfits, opting…

Hope Azeda is running a bit behind for our phone interview, but to make up for it, she sends me a link to a dialogue she had with Jackie Lumbasi a few weeks ago. In the video, she opens up about her childhood journey and how it molded her into the revered woman she is today: a key player in Rwanda’s art scene, who is equal parts perfervid and humble. Born and raised in Western Uganda, as a refugee, she was intent on proving for herself, and she did, rising over the next decades to successfully use art as a…