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Ronnie Otieno’s answer is on point.Rwanda government banned use of polythene bags. Non biodegradable plastic bags is the most pollutant in most African cities. This greatly reduces the amount of trash.On last Saturday of every month. Its called Umuganda day. This is the day that the whole community come together and clean their neighborhoods.Rwanda also invested much on keeping the country clean. Unlike other African countries that pollution issue is not really given that top priority in parliament or even when budgeting.Rwandese Government enforce laws to those who pollute the environment. Other African countries, yes the laws are there but no one is enforcing them.Rwandese in general have learnt that they are ‘cleanest country’ in Africa and they practice good waste disposal they don't want to lose that title.I would like to add one more thing. The mentality and how these changes came about. Exemplary leadership.The monthly community service, banning plastic bags, enforcing the laws, the self-pride that comes with knowing that our country is the cleanest in Africa.Kigali Peace Marathon, one of the yearly event in our nation’s capital.Truth to be told, it requires nothing to clean your house or neighborhoods. It does not require any aid to make sure that your area is cleaned. This is what Rwanda has done for a little over 15 years with Umuganda, the monthly community service, and for 10 years with the plastic bag ban.How was Rwanda successful in imposing the polythene ban? ( My answer on how Rwanda became the first country to successfully ban plastic bag in 2008).It has worked and any African can do it too. However, do not think that it came out of nowhere. It was a community effort and everybody did their best.In the beginning, It started out from the president, the leaders, and the people followed the trend. Without the people’s support, nothing would have been possible.In Rwanda, we used to have the old school mentality of “big boss” leadership. Politicians were considered like the bosses. They would only give commands and they would sit down. When Paul Kagame was elected president in 2003, he started to change that mentality a little bit.Slowly but surely, the political leaders started to become like servants of the people. We still have a long way to go with regards to mayors and governors of provinces. However, we have made some progress that they are starting to behave like they serve the people.Our politicians do and should work for us. They are our leaders, but also they are our servants.President Kagame has been drilling these fundamentals into their heads for 15 years now. In my opinion, they are finally starting to get it. However, it took lots of time and efforts.What is only in Rwanda? ( My answer on Rwandan exceptionalism in leadership).To change the mentality, it did require the president himself to pick up plastic bags along the streets and making those incidences public. In Rwandan DNA, the leader is the boss and he only should instruct.When we saw the “man himself” getting his hands dirty, we knew the streets had to be cleaned. Make no mistake, this is not a photo opportunity, like many African leaders would do. President Kagame does this on a regular basis. He has done this, thousands of times by now.The President getting to work at UmugandaLeading by example is a big part of how Rwanda was able to change the mentality of the people. This is how PK’s leadership works. He knows that whatever he does, people will simply follow because of the respect and the trust they have in him.In addition to Umuganda, we also have sports day and car free day in Kigali. Think about it? Kigali is the largest and the capital city in Rwanda. Imagine stopping all cars in the largest city in your country for 4 hours every 2nd saturday of the month, from 0800 to 1200, to allow citizens to walk freely in the streets, enjoying their city. That is “ environmental sustainability” at its best.This day is to encourage people to stay healthy by doing some physical exercises. They just started the program, but I assume one year down, people are going to stay active in their own time. You have to start from somewhere.Sports day and car free day in Kigali are on the second saturday of the month. Umuganda is on the last saturday of the month. It is meant to encourage people to lead healthy lives, taking care of their bodies, physically and emotionally.Guess who is always there every time when his busy schedule permits?Paul Kagame himself.This is the president, walking in the streets of Kigali ( 10 minutes from my house).In the photo below, he is getting tested for blood sugar levels, heart rate and other vital signs. I am sure he has an entire medical team that looks after his health. However, on a saturday morning after a sports day and car free day, he knows that the only way to get people motivated is to lead by example.This is how he wins our hearts and how the government is able to create public awareness of any issues they want to put forth.In Rwanda, such tactics work because from the year 1081 when the kingdom of Rwanda was created by our great ancestor, Gihanga Ngomijana, Rwandan people tend to follow the commands. We respect our leaders’ rules.In a nutshell, exemplary leadership is how Rwanda has managed to be the “cleanest” nation in Africa.Any African can do the same. It is really not rocket-science. Once the people get it and they are actively involved throughout the process, the rest is easy.Enjoy some more photos of Kigali and RwandaDowntown Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.Aerial view of Kacyiru, my neighborhood in Kigali.Tea plantation in Rusizi, Western Province, near the Nyungwe Forest, the largest tropical forest in Africa.A few more adventures that make Rwanda, an attractive destination for tourists.Safari in the Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and the city of Kigali.Rwandans have a rich culture. Lots of traditions.Rwanda is a very welcoming country. We have a rich culture of dance, music, arts and all that. There is nothing we enjoy more than sharing our culture with others. If you come visit us, we will be happy to share it with you.Below are a few photos of our sisters showcasing our amazing culture through dance and music. Amazing hospitality, great and friendly people.Rwandan Culture displayed by our beautiful ladiesRwandan Traditional Dance at the Berlin ( Germany) International Tourism Festival ( March 2018).For more about Rwanda, check out my Quora at Rwanda Today.Promoting tourism through branding and marketing the new Rwanda.10 plus One Amazing Facts about Rwanda and Reasons to visit in 2018Rwanda 101: Introduction to Modern Rwanda ( Rwanda Post-1994).Public Transportation in our nation’s capital, Kigali.Photo credit: Rwanda the Heart of Africa & Visit Rwanda.Hope this helps.Didier Champion

The devil is always in the details.In case of Rwanda, the devil was “crazy-high” on steroids.Truth to be told, these denominations (Hutu and Tutsi ) were already present before colonization. When Europeans arrived, they managed alter their meaning and changed them from “social economic” classes to “ethnic” groups.To this day, it is still confusing to many non-Rwandans, but once you study their history in details, it is manageable to understand the complexity of this mess.I am Rwandan and was about 5 years old when this tragedy broke out in Rwanda. I grew up in the aftermath, learning about this genocide, going to remembrance weeks, visiting memorial sites, talking to some school friends who lost their entire families, and listening to their testimonies about how they survived.It is very hard to make sense of what happened, the evilness, the cruelty, and the gruesome inhumane acts of what happened in Rwanda.Anyway, below is a brief history of Hutu and Tutsi from the beginning. I hope you get a glimplse of how it all started, how it evolved, and why it is hard to comprehend.Didier Champion's answer to What cultural or economic characteristics distinguished Hutu and Tutsi people in pre-genocide Rwanda, given that they spoke the same language, were genetically close, and had lived in the same region for centuries?In Pre-colonial Rwanda,“Hutu” and “Tutsi” were just social economic classes. Owning a big herd of cows made you a “ Tutsi”. At the time, a cow was a very valuable asset in the Rwandan economy. The social classes were the following:Owning more than 10 cows made you a “Tutsi”. Think of them as the wealthiest class.Owning fewer than 10 cows made you a “ Hutu”. Think of them as the middle class.The “Twa” owned nothing. They were the poorest in the society. They generally had no fields of their own to dig. They were known to be potters. They were sidelined because they were too poor and virtually no power. Majority of the times, they worked for the Hutus and the Tutsis as laborers.Rwandan Traditional cows, known as “Inyambo”. They are knows for their long-horns.In general, Tutsis were cattle herders. Their cows provided milk and meat, which were delicacies in the Rwandan culture. Their cows’ waste was used as fertilizers in the fields of Hutus for agriculture. Hutus were farmers, heavily involved in agriculture, planting and harvesting crops.These two groups exchanged goods and services with one another. The Tutsis provided meat and milk to the Hutus. The Hutus exchanged their produce such as sorghum, cassavas, beans, etc. with the Tutsis.Since these two were social classes, it was possible to move from one social class to another, upward or downward. Think of them social economic classes we have today such as “lower middle class” and “upper midde class”.You could have been a “Tutsi” today, but tomorrow, if all your cows died due to long period of droughts or other animal diseases, you would have been downgraded to “Hutu”.You could have been “ Hutu” today, but tomorrow, if your farming and animal keeping business was booming, you could have moved up to “Tutsi”.Before the arrival of Europeans in Rwanda, these social classes lived with one another in peace and harmony. Their sons and daughters married across these social classes and interacted with one another.The statistics shows that the Hutus occupied 85%, the Tutsis occupied 14% and Twa, 1% of the population.During colonial era,Everything was good until the white men came in around the end of the 19th century.When the European colonizers, the so-called explorers came to Rwanda and arrogantly “discovered” Rwandans, the indigenous people as we are called. They were peaceful and lived in harmony with one another.The colonizers noticed that it was going to be hard to exploit and colonize people who were united. Under their motto “ divide to conquer”, they had to find a way to separate and divide Rwandans, one step at a time. What did they do?You have 15% of the population ( Tutsi) who are wealthy and control the mojority of the Kingdom of Rwanda.You have 85% ( Hutus) who are the majority ( by the numbers), but don’t have as much power and influence.To divide the population, they did the trivial thing that any enemy would do.Favor the minority and make the majority hate the minority. Antagonize them and make them fight one another from time to time.This is exactly what they did.Initially, they sided with the Tutsi from the beginning. They were the leaders of the Kingdom, so it made sense to befriend with the Kings first to get a good entrance at the door. At every level of administration, education, or other prestigious professions, the Belgian colonizers gave preferential treatment to the Tutsis. Their children were enrolled in the first European schools, taugh them French and all that.In leadership, the Tutsis were given key positions leading districts, provinces, and they would report to the Belgian masters.Rwanda was colonized from from 1885 to 1962.From 1885–1919, under German colonial rule. After WW I, Germany lost its colonies and we were handed over to the Belgians.From 1919–1962, under Belgian domination.Under the Belgian domination, the hatred and the divisionism between the two was getting out of hand. The Belgians favored Tutsis, but from time to time, they would go to the Hutus and taunt them to stir up the pot and to increase the hatred.“ You are the majority, by the numbers, why don’t you revolt against these Tutsis who have been dominating you for generations”. If you were to fight them, you would win”.These sort of taunting were to stir things up so that both groups stay divided and hateful to one another. By the time, Rwanda got its independence in 1962, things were already out of control. Some Tutsis had fled to neighbouring countries in Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and DRC-Congo as refugees.In 1962, when Rwanda became a republic. The Hutus, who were already the majority of the population won the election by “democracy”. When they came to power, they started what was was 30 years of antagonizing the Tutsis from early 60’s to early 90’s. They called this time their to shine and make Tutsis pay back.Registering people’s ethnic groups in national IDs under Belgian rule in 1935.Some of the most defining moments that these white racists did in Rwanda was when they started requiring people to register Hutu/Tutsi identities in their national IDs.As the economy of Rwanda were getting more and more “modernized” with currency, the Belgians noticed that the values of social classes based on cows ownership was outdated and would soon lose value.So, they came up with another racist way to change existing social classes ( Hutus and Tutsis) into ethinics groups. This is where all the trouble started or got worse and worse. To achieve this, they brought in anthropologists and other so-called experts who did all sorts crazy studies to show and convince Rwandans that they were indeed different. Unfortunately, Indigenous Rwandans were too dumb and stupid to believe these bullshit, even after independence. Below is a summary of what they came up with.They measured people’s height, nose length, categorizing each of the two groups with characteristics you cannot believe. Their results were statistically insignificant, but they still pushed their agenda anyway. Nobody was there to check or contradict their “work”.The margin error of their randomized studies was so high and so bad that a chimpanzee would have had better results, guessing who was Hutu or Tutsi. At least a primate chimp would have had about 50%-chance. Theirs was worse than that.They “traced” the origins of where the newly created tribe or ethnic group came from, with all sorts of made up stories to convince Rwandans that they were indeed different.There are so many ” fake studies and so-called research” they did that I cannot go through in this article. But, understand that the main plan of these so-called studies was to change the ( outdated) social classes into tribes ( ethnic groups). They wanted to keep the Hutu and Tutsi denominations, but wanted to change their meaning in the Rwandan context. Unfortunately, these racist white Europeans succeeded and were able to change them.Like a good slave to their master, Rwandans accepted the change.Later, every Rwandan who was 18 years old had their newly created denominations in their national ID’s. The plan was simple. Any children younger than 18, were given the ethnic group of whatever their fathers had been given, following a patriarchal system.Remember in Rwanda, we speak one universal language ( Kinyarwanda) and have one homogenous culture ( food, traditions, etc). Both Hutus and Tutsis had been living side by side, wedding and mingling with one another for generations. There was really no way to identify a Hutu or Tutsi by looking at their physical traits ( height or nose length), and other nosense. Not then, not today!This is what a typical national ID looked back then. The red circle indicates what ethnic group this lady belonged to. From this ID, this lady would have been labeled as “ Hutu”.If this young lady married a “ Tutsi” guy, then her children would have been “ Tutsi” by default following a patriarchal system.On the other hand, if a “ Hutu” guy had married a “Tutsi” lady, their children would have been “Hutu”. The whole ethnic identification might sound no sense to you, but it was deliberately studied and executed by the white colonists. These bastards played their racist game really well. Unfortunately, they succeeded and the rest of what happened is an ugly history.During Genocide against Tutsi ( 07 April to 04 July, 1994, 100 days).Fast forward in 1994, many people lost their lives because of these identifications. Whenever people were fleeing, you were assumed to be “ Tutsi” unless you showed that you were “ Hutu” in your ID card. Otherwise, nobody could tell who was who by physical appearance. The perpetrators had to check people’s IDs to determine what ethnic group they belong to.This is why the first thing the new government of Rwanda did after genocide was to remove Hutu and Tutsi denominations in people’s IDs.Today, this is how new national IDs look like. Nothing apart from your basic information such as your name, birth date, gender, and place of issue.To this day, as a Rwandan, I still can’t make sense of it. You can only move forward and hope that the future is better and brighter.Hope for Rwanda Today and Tomorrow ( 24 years after)Every year, from April 7th to April 13th we remember those who lost their lives in the terrible genocide against Tutsi. We call this week, a remembrance week. It is a very emotional time for Rwandans, home and abroad. We learn from our past while striving to build a better Rwanda for ourselves.“Kwibuka” means “to remember” in our local language, Kinyarwanda.This year, we commemorated this tragedy for the 24th times since 1994. It is an opportunity for us Rwandans to look ourselves in the mirror, look back at our horrific history and strive to create a new Rwanda with peace, unity, and sustainable development.The forces used to destroy this beautiful country, are now being used to build it. Yes, the past is ugly, but Rwanda Today is peaceful, united, and progressive.The before and after photo of Kigali Today, the political and the economic capital city of Rwanda ( April, 2018).“We cannot turn the clock back nor can we undo the harm caused, but we have the power to determine the future and to ensure that what happened never happens again”. President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.I have written another answer about genocide against Tutsi in 1994, focusing on the failure of the international community to intervene in Rwanda and the role of the French government played in funding and supporting this massacre to happen.Feel free to check it out in the link below. It has gotten very popular and I guess people did not know about it.Didier Champion's answer to Why were we so worried about the Jewish genocide but never stopped the genocide in Rwanda? .French Army training the Interahamwe Militia in Zone Turquoise ( 26 June , 1994, Rwanda).Rwanda Today is peaceful, united, and Rwandan people have a bright future together as one. Check it out in details if you are interested.Didier Champion's answer to Is there hope for Rwanda?Aerial Photo of my hometown, Kigali, Rwanda ( April 2018).The Kigali Convention Center is the most expensive building in Africa ( $ 300 million in value). It has become a symbol of how big Rwandans want to dream, being accountable, thinking big together to create a better inclusive Rwanda. After this gruesome genocide, we had no choice but to move forward together in unity and peace.Last but not least,I hope I answered your answer and that you learned something new.Feel free to ask any specific questions you might have. I will do my best to answer them. Until then, keep calm and love Rwanda.Peace! Love and Respect!Thank youDidier ChampionAn Overview of What Really Happened in the Brutal Rwandan Genocide

Rwanda has changed so much that you would have trouble believing it if the last time you were in Rwanda were in 1994.You would be like somebody going from a 1995 Nokia cell-phone to a current iphone or android phone model. Rwanda Today is quite an upgrade. I call it “Rwanda 5.0”.The country has gone from being a “ failed state” to what many have called an “ economic miracle”.Rwanda Today is peaceful, developing, and has so much potential.The leaders of Rwanda and the Rwandan people took matters into their own hands and have been working day and night to create a Rwanda that many Rwandans never had. An inclusive Rwanda where no Rwandan is left behind.It has not been a smooth ride, but despite the challenges, Rwanda has continued to push through, overcoming danger and adversity along the way.Today, the international medias that used to describe Rwanda as a “ War-Torn country” are describing as Rwanda as the new place to be, visit, live, and invest.Aerial Photo of my hometown, Kigali, Rwanda. The Kigali Convention Center.How Rwanda Became the Unlikeliest Tourism Destination in AfricaNow, all of the sudden, Rwanda started to become an economic model that could be used in other countries!?Rwanda Rising: A New Model of Economic DevelopmentI mean, the western media is now obsessed with Rwanda. They want to know how did Rwanda do it? The western countries wonder how are we developing so fast with our own ideas. They say: “We did not provide our expertise. They rejected our ideas and opinions. Where did they get them from?”They seem to be confused and surprised at the same time. Even the so-called “experts” on international development can’t seem to understand what is happening in Rwanda or whether it is replicable anywhere else on the continent.Rwanda’s development model wouldn’t work elsewhere in AfricaBut Rwandans have been working from the beginning, trying and figuring out what works for them and what does not. Failing multiple times and managing risks very carefully until they get it right. They might take foreign money from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and other countries, but they do not allow their “western” ideas to be applied in Rwanda if they do not see them fit. Donors can provide advice, but they will not impose. Not in Rwanda led by Paul Kagame.Quoting the president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame,“We are Rwandans, and we know what works better for our people better than anybody else”.Nobody lectures Rwanda how the people of Rwanda should be led or live their lives. The desire to be self-reliant and independent is really strong. After all, nobody came in to stop genocide when people were being murdered. The RPF ( Rwanda Patriotic Front) came in and stopped the massacre, fought against the FDRL afterwards and rescued the nation by themselves.So, the “do-it-for yourself” attitude is stronger than ever in Rwanda.Sometimes he gets real with the western powers, especially with matters related to their hypocrisy, bias reporting and hosting genocide deniers in their country while failing to bring them to justice. Rwandans cannot believe such incidences. This tweet from the president summarizes all the frustrations and disappointments.If you are planning to skim through this article, you will find this 2-min video very informative. It will give you a brief overview of Rwanda’s vision and aspirations for the future. Post 1994-Rwanda Today!With that being said, below is my introduction to Modern Rwanda, “ Rwanda 101”. Enjoy reading and if you have other questions, feel free to contact me. Cheers!10 plus One Amazing Facts about Rwanda and Reasons to visit in 201810 Things you should know about Rwanda; Rwanda Today and her potential for a bright future.This is the Rwandan flag. As a symbol for the nation, it represents the pillars of what Rwanda wants to be. The colors and their respective meanings are very important.“Blue” for peace and happiness,“Yellow” for economic development,“Green” for prosperity and “the sun” for enlightenment.Rwanda has been featured among the “must see” locations for the year 2018 by various international travel agencies such as CNN Travel, New York Times, Huffington Post, The Telegraph, the Vogue, and many others.Therefore, 2018 is an exciting year for my beautiful nation, Rwanda, and for travelers around the world. As a proud Rwandan, I am very happy that we are finally starting to get the recognition we deserve by many international tourism agencies around the World.1. Kigali: The capital city of RwandaKigali has been voted as the cleanest and one of the most organized cities in Africa. For the 4th year in a row, from 2014 to 2017, The United Nations nominated Kigali as the most beautiful city in Africa.I don’t see any other city taking this prestigious in 2018. Whatever happens, Kigali will still be among the top 3. I love my city. It is an amazing city. The Photos can’t do good justice of how organized, clean and awesome this city is.The beauty of Kigali combined in one! It is also a major tourist attractionDowntown Kigali at Night-Rwanda!2. Environmental Sustainability ( The first country to ban plastic bags in the World)Green Environmental friendly city! An affluent neighboorhood in Kigali.The use of plastic bags was banned in 2008. Literally, no plastic bag is allowed to enter Rwanda. Even at the airport, you give up your plastic bags, and they give you biodegredable or reusable paper bag. It is amazing! Check out this British journalist story at the Rwandan Airport ( Credit: The Guardian UK).Snapshot a british journalist story in the Guardian article3. Monthly Community Service in the whole countryIt’s called Umuganda in the local language, which means “ working together”. The last Saturday of the month, each community delegates a place to meet up and do something positive to the community. Usually, activities involve cleaning up, planting out trees, building a house for the poor, infrastructure ( a local school, hospital), or something of that nature. The idea is to work together for the betterment of the community and the Rwandan society at large.The President getting to work at UmugandaSee this man in the photo above?Yes, he is the president of Rwanda. He does the Umuganda too. In fact, every month, he goes to different locations around the country to do Umuganda with the people.4. Paul Kagame, the best president in Africa, right now.I can’t think of any other president who has transformed his/her country, literally from being hopeless to hopeful, from a disaster to an economic recovery, from literally nothing to something. Perhaps, most importantly, he has inspired and motivated the next generation of young leaders, like myself. He leads by example. He does talk less, but he does so much. A complete opposite of many African leaders.He is the man of action, himself! As the 2018 head of the African Union, he has an impossible task to lead Africa and make reforms that will benefit African people and their socio-economic conditions on the continent. I wish him the best of luck.President Kagame, the head of the African Union, meeting President Trump at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzeland, March 2018.Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, before winning an another 7-year term in 2017.5. The most number of women in the parliament in the World.64% of the members of the Rwandan parliament in both chambers ( senate and deputy) are women. No wonder why the country is doing well. Regulations mandates that at least 30% of all government institutions have to be women. From top-level ministers level to low-level leaders in the communities. You talk about women’s rights, equality and all that? In Rwanda, we don’t just preach equality. We are doers. The population is 50% men, 50% women, so it makes sense to include women in all levels of decision making in the government. Doesn’t it?64% of Rwandan parliament members are women.See this photo below?All women flight crew, Captain and her co-pilot of the RwandAir, the national air carrier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Very rare to see elsewhere, but not in Rwanda.Captain and her co-pilot, posing for a photo opportunity with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.6. Tea and Coffee ( Some of the best coffee in the World)Rwandan coffee beansEvery year, Rwanda coffee wins some of the best international awards for best quality coffee. Order you some here if you are interested. Let me know if you have had any other coffee that competes with ours.One of the best coffees in the worldI am a coffee stud myself. So, I would be interested to know who are our competitors!7. Kigali Convention Center ( The most expensive building on the African continent). It cost about 300 million USD.Kigali Convention Center in Kigali, RwandaIt is a masterpiece of architecture combining arts, culture, and modern design together. it is a major venue for big national and international meetings and assemblies. It has hosted African Union meetings, the World Economic forums, United Nations and many more. In 2017, Rwanda came 3rd after South Africa and Morocco as a country to host may international meetings on the continent, tying with Kenya and Egypt.8. Regardless of your nationality, you do not need a visa to come to RWANDA.Visa upon arrival to the citizens of the worldStarting January 2018, you don’t need to apply for a visa to come to RWANDA. Want to come to Rwanda? No problem. You will get a 90-day visa at all Rwandan borders and airports if you are African; and 30–60 days if you are from other continents. Other countries are closing, tightening up their borders, we are opening them and welcoming the world. I love it.9. Beautiful Mountain Gorilla and amazing Safaris ExperienceSilverback Gorilla at the Virunga National Park in Northern ProvinceRwanda has 50% of all the mountain gorillas in the world. They are endangered species, so Rwanda does a great job at preserving these treasures. You will have the best experience touring and visiting the amazing creatures.This is my cousin photo last time we were there. Amazing experience!My cousin, posing nearby ( 1 meter away) a gorilla and her two babies in the back.Also, if you want to see all sorts of animals ( Hippos, Lions, Zebras, etc) at their natural habitat, Rwanda has all you need. Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park are the main ones. Forget about the zoos, come to Rwanda. We will take you where they live.Giraffes at the Akagera National ParkZebras and other animals at the Akagera National Park10. Rich culture and Traditions (Amazing hospitality, great and friendly people)Rwanda is a very welcoming country. We have a rich culture of dance, music, arts and all that. There is nothing we enjoy more than sharing our culture with others. If you come visit us, we will be happy to share it with you. Below are a few photos of our sisters showcasing our amazing culture through dance and music.Rwandan Traditional dance at the International Tourism Festival in Berlin ( March, 2018)Rwandan Culture displayed through drumming at the Festival ( Berlin, March, 2018).I hope you learned something new about my country, Rwanda. As you can see, hope is not negotiable in today’s Rwanda. Whether you are Rwandan, home and abroad, this country belongs to all of us. We love it and the new Modern Rwanda has lots of potential. Peace, inclusion, and sustainable growth. Until then,If you are a traveler, add Rwanda on your wishlist. You will be amazed! Remember, no prior visa application! At your arrival, it costs $ 30 and takes between 3 to 5 minutes. CNN Travel and many other travel agencies just named Rwanda number 11 out of 18 best places to travel in 2018, so don’t miss out.Credit to Rwanda, the heart of Africa & Travel Rwanda facebook pages, for allowing me to use their pictures. For more pictures, check them out!If you liked this article,be sure to leave an upvote for me.Bonus pictures:Public Transportation Bus station in Kigali, RwandaFor more about Rwanda, check out my other articles on my page or below.Hope you find them very informative and interesting.Didier Champion's answer to How is a Rwanda, one of Africa's smaller countries, amongst the most powerful nations in Africa? What is their leverage? ( From a failed state to an economic miracle: What did Rwanda do different and how?).Didier Champion's answer to Is there hope for Rwanda? ( Rwanda Today and a bright future together as one people).Didier Champion's answer to What do you know about Rwanda? ( 15 things you did not know about Rwanda and reasons to pay a visit today or in the future).Updates ( 10 April 2018):Thank you so much for the massive support and positive feedback. I will be writing more about Rwanda more often on Quora. Please keep in mind, I am not a politician, nor a political analyst or a spokesperson for the government. Haha, Okay!?I am just a regular Rwandan citizen sharing with you my version of the Rwandan story I know and see everyday. My credentials say who am and what I do for living. I am an engineer and an entrepreneur who likes to travel and explore the world near and far away from me.Obviously, I love, follow and know Rwanda quite well too. Murakoze (thank you)!As far tourism goes, Rwanda is one of those ( hidden) places that tourists will find it quite fun and interesting to visit.Every year, from April 7th to April 13th we remember those who lost their lives in the terrible genocide against Tutsi. We call this week, a remembrance week. It is a very emotional time for Rwandans, home and abroad. We learn from our past while striving to build a better Rwanda for ourselves. That’s why, I am spending some of my precious time to answer people’s questions about Rwanda this week.With that, I will finish this post by quoting the architect of this Rwandan story I just shared with you today.“We cannot turn the clock back nor can we undo the harm caused, but we have the power to determine the future and to ensure that what happened never happens again”. Paul KagameI am very passionate about showing people around the world a side of Rwanda that they barely know about.As a proud Rwandan, I make no apologies telling the world why and what I love about Rwanda.I love Rwanda Today and will always be proud of this beautiful country.In fact, if there was a Wakanda for me, it would have to be Rwanda.Now, let’s hope I have earned your upvote! haha…Cheers!Didier Champion