Rwandan traditional music artist Ruti Joel has responded to international dancer Sherie Silver after her comments about struggling to read and understand Kinyarwanda sparked debate on social media.
The discussion began on October 5, 2026, after Silver posted on Instagram about receiving numerous messages written in Kinyarwanda.
Silver said people often send her messages in Kinyarwanda assuming that she can read and understand them, yet she still finds the language difficult. She added that she sometimes struggles with English as well and said understanding a single sentence in Kinyarwanda can take her considerable time.
Her remarks quickly drew mixed reactions online. Some social media users criticised the way she presented her difficulty with the language, with some interpreting her comments as dismissive of Kinyarwanda. Others questioned how someone born in Butare could still struggle to understand the country’s national language.
Among those who reacted was Ruti Joel, who told her: “Oh my! You’ll learn Kinyarwanda while you’re in Rwanda.”
Journalist The Cyiza said he believed the controversy was not necessarily about Silver’s inability to speak Kinyarwanda, but rather the way she described the situation.
“I think the problem is not that you don’t know Kinyarwanda, but the way you expressed it when talking about it,” he said.
Other social media users expressed surprise that Silver does not speak Kinyarwanda fluently, while some accused her of failing to embrace the language of the country where she was born.
As criticism grew, Silver returned to the subject in a video posted on Instagram, in which she attempted to speak Kinyarwanda while explaining her earlier comments.
She said she had not intended to appear arrogant or suggest that she did not value Kinyarwanda. She explained that learning the language has simply been a challenge for her.
Silver said she receives many messages in Kinyarwanda but has not yet reached a level where she can comfortably read and understand them. She explained that she did not have the same opportunity as other children to learn the language while growing up.
She also revealed that she had previously worked with two teachers who helped her learn Kinyarwanda, although she is no longer taking the lessons.
Despite the difficulties, Silver said she continues to make an effort to improve her Kinyarwanda. She added that she would like her future children to speak the language.
The exchange has renewed debate about the importance of maintaining Kinyarwanda among Rwandans living abroad, particularly the role families play in helping children raised outside Rwanda learn and retain their native language.
