''Intore'', sometimes called the Dance of Heroes, is a traditional dance performed by men in

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

; women are not allowed to do so. In pre-colonial times, ''intore'' was a war dance performed by the

Tutsi The Tutsi (), or Abatutsi (), are an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. They are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group and the second largest of three main ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi (the other two being the largest Bantu ethnic g ...

military. Dance numbers were often war-themed, and the performing men carried actual weapons. Present-day ''intore'' dancers do not carry actual weapons, but instead use replicas. It is now performed at various celebrations and public ceremonies, including family gatherings and Rwandan national events. The dance is accompanied by drum ensemble (from seven to nine drums), providing strong, almost hypnotic set of rhythms. Melodic interludes are provided by the ''lulunga'', a harp-like instrument with eight strings. Potential dancers are chosen based on physical and moral attributes. Before they can perform, the ''intore'' dancers receive training, where they learn the steps of the dance as well as moral values.

References

Rwandan culture {{Rwanda-stub