Rwanda has officially launched a national competition for Igisoro, a traditional strategy board game, in a bid to preserve and promote cultural heritage among secondary and vocational school students.
The competition was officially inaugurated by Ambassador Robert Masozera, Chairperson of the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture, during a ceremony held at the Arts and Culture Centre in Kanombe.
The tournament will bring together selected schools from 16 districts across the country, with opening matches featuring students from Kigali City, the Northern Province, and the Eastern Province.
Organised in partnership with Jumelage Rwanda and the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture, the initiative aims to strengthen the transmission of cultural values while revitalising traditional games within the education system.
Officials say the programme is designed to ensure that cultural heritage is not only preserved but actively integrated into learning environments as part of broader efforts to strengthen national identity.
Igisoro, one of Rwanda’s oldest traditional games, is played on a board consisting of 32 pits—16 on each side—using 64 small stones or seeds locally known as “inka” or “imbuguzo.”
Played by two participants, the game requires strategic thinking, with the objective of capturing all of the opponent’s pieces through calculated moves.
Organisers say the competition will help students develop critical thinking skills while reconnecting younger generations with Rwanda’s cultural traditions.
