THE SECRET MEANING OF SILENCE

What happens when a body becomes a battleground?

Today, as Rwanda debates decency, dress, morality and the policing of bodies, we are releasing The Secret Meaning of Silence.

This work was created before this current moment, but perhaps that is exactly why it needs to speak now.

Because this conversation is bigger than what a woman wears.

It is about who gets to define our bodies. Who gets to decide what is acceptable. Who gets to speak. And who is expected to remain silent.

We believe we can have conversations about culture, dignity, public conduct and the values we want as a society without reducing women’s bodies to problems that need to be controlled.

And we believe allies matter.

So today, we are calling on artists, cultural workers, feminists, men, women, institutions, policymakers, lawyers, journalists and citizens who believe that bodily autonomy, dignity and freedom of expression deserve a place in this conversation.

Not necessarily because we all agree.

But because we are willing to speak, listen, question and engage.

Silence has a meaning.

But so does breaking it.

Watch. Share. Speak. Join the conversation.

---

UBUSOBANURO BW’UKWICECEKERA

Bigenda bite iyo umubiri uhindutse ikibuga cy’intambara?

Uyu munsi, mu gihe u Rwanda rukomeje kuganira ku bijyanye n’imyambarire, ikinyabupfura, indangagaciro n’uko imibiri yacu igomba kugenzurwa, turashyira hanze igihangano The Secret Meaning of Silence.

Iki gihangano cyakozwe mbere y’ibi bihe turimo. Ariko wenda ni yo mpamvu gikwiye kuvuga ubu.

Kuko iki kiganiro kirenze ibyo umugore yambara.

Ni ikibazo cy’uwemerewe kugira ijambo ku mubiri wacu. Uwemerewe kugena ibikwiriye n’ibidakwiriye. Uwemerewe kuvuga. N’uwitezweho guceceka.

Twizera ko dushobora kuganira ku muco, icyubahiro, imyitwarire ahahurira abantu benshi n’indangagaciro twifuza nk’umuryango Nyarwanda, tutagombye gufata imibiri y’abagore nk’ikibazo kigomba kugenzurwa.

Kandi twizere ko abafatanyabikorwa b’iki kiganiro ari ingenzi.

Uyu munsi rero turahamagarira abahanzi, abakora mu muco, abaharanira uburinganire, abagabo, abagore, inzego, abafata ibyemezo, abanyamategeko, abanyamakuru n’abaturage muri rusange bemera ko uburenganzira bwo kwigenga ku mubiri, icyubahiro n’ubwisanzure bwo gutanga ibitekerezo bikwiye kugira umwanya muri iki kiganiro.

Si ngombwa ko twese tubona ibintu kimwe.

Ariko dushobora kuvuga, gutega amatwi, kubaza ibibazo no kuganira.

Ukwicecekera nako kugira icyo gusobanura.

Ariko no kucyica bifite icyo bisobanuye.

Reba. Sangiza abandi. Vuga. Injira muri iki kiganiro.

#TheSecretMeaningOfSilence #Unmute #ArtistsAgainstAbuse #BodilyAutonomy #Rwanda #MyBodyMyVoice #EndTheSilence