1. LOCATION / DESCRIPTION
The National museum of Rwanda is located in the town of Butare approximately 81 miles (135 km) south of the capital city of Kigali. (Butare is considered to be the intellectual center of the country with its National Museum, arboretum, and several academic (university) and research institutions.) The Butare museum is situated on more than 50 acres (20 hectares) of land. The buildings themselves occupy 9,000 sq. feet (2,500 square meters). The remaining land has been made into gardens containing indigenous vegetation and a traditional craft training center making the entire site an educational experience and a pleasure to visit.

2. COLLECTIONS
The artifact collection is essentially historical, ethnographic, artistic and archeological. The public collection is exhibited in seven rooms with the remainder of the artifats in storage. Room I has a ticket counter-gift shop where handicraft items, booklets, etc.are sold. This room is also regulary used for temporary exhibitions. Exibits are created around themes to arouse awareness in a given situation or a particular event. Room II is for maps, photos and graphics which provide geographic and linguistic information about Rwanda. Rooms III and IV display items used in various economic activities such as agriculture, cattle-breeding, bee-keeping, hunting, fishing, basketry, pottery and wood carving. Room V depicts various types of Rwandan architecture, past ways of living and social organisation. Room VI basically depicts traditional clothing, adornment and recreation. Room VII presents prehistoric information and shows the chronology of the kings (Bami) based on written and oral tradition. Also there are exhibits on metallurgy, traditional religious practices, marriage and music.

3. OPINION
Magic Safaris states "The museum is the finest ethnographic museum of East-Africa. It reflects well the time spirit at the end of 19th Century when the East-African Kingdoms came in contact with the first Europeans. The rich insights about Rwanda's traditional life and culture and the subsequent development during history will contribute to a better understanding of African history. A must for everybody who's interested in Africa."