Cynthia Butare

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Cynthia Butare Hi, my name is Cynthia and I'm a storyteller at heart, an avid blogger, a self-taught camera operator, a bespoke wedding movie-maker and a content creator.

Hi, my name is Cynthia Butare. I am a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Kigali, Rwanda. My first attempt at documentary filmmaking was in 2012, while I was studying in the UK with KICKIN’ IT WITH THE KINKS. Made with my friend Mundia Situmbeko, the film tackles natural hair amongst black women and on the harmful effects of chemically straightening. The sneak peeks were propelled by I

nternet users who wanted to see it, then they were relayed by word of mouth. This allowed the film to go through a series of screenings for the following two years in the UK, US, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Nigeria, Zambia, Namibia and Rwanda. In 2013, I made Ishimwa: from Bloodshed to Grace, which reveals one remarkable man's struggle to overcome his past as a genocide survivor. The film, delivered in his own words, shares how he survived the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and become involved with gangs in London. He eventually goes on to join a ballet school. Relocating to my country of heritage, Rwanda in 2014, meant getting the opportunity to truly understand this place, its resonance for Rwandans, and also my place in it. From then on, photography appeared to me as a more suitable creative expression to be able to explore over time the daily novelty that was offered to me. In 2022, I had my first exhibition called Moulding Hands, which took part in a collective photo exhibition curated by the cultural entrepreneur Nelson Niyakire. This photo exhibition is a vivid display of the moulding of Rwandan heritage through the toil of bare hands.

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As I dabble in many areas, this is an outlet for me truly rooted in my purpose, as elusive and eternal as it is. Hence this space is an intermingling of all of my interests into one fully-fledged portal. It is a scrapbook to externalise my thoughts, mould my opinions and express what I stand for and value. That being so, I write, I share my daily life and my pictures, to not only engage but also intrigue, challenge, and arouse your curiosity about Rwanda, its culture, and its landscapes, in order to develop my sense of observation, to sharpen my creative sensibilities, feed my thoughts, discover the unknown, and above all… exchange with you!.

This is a picture that I have captured close to Kibuye in a coffee plantation. The rich history of Rwandan coffee is lik...
09/02/2023

This is a picture that I have captured close to Kibuye in a coffee plantation. The rich history of Rwandan coffee is like an ethereal tapestry woven with threads of culture and identity. The aroma of freshly cursed coffee evokes a captivating sensation that is hard to resist, like a symphony of taste that plays in your mouth and entices your senses.

Famed for its fruity, chocolaty, and citrusy flavors, Rwandan coffee is a delight for the senses. The high altitude and abundance of water in Rwanda create the perfect mystical conditions for growing high-quality coffee beans, resulting in a coffee that is bright and full of flavor, like a mystical symphony of taste that plays in your mouth.

In Rwanda, coffee beans are a treasure, a golden cash crop that flourishes, with farmers and baristas dedicating their lives to perfecting the art of making it, a mystical and delicate process of growing, harvesting, and roasting, a symphony of flavors, a dance of aroma, a rich tradition and culture that blossoms. The aroma, acidity, and finesse of Rwandan coffee is unmatched, it's like a mystical dance of flavors that entices your senses and creates a captivating sensation.

As I stood among the artisans, the colors of the fibers flowed before me in a mesmerizing river of color. The art of dye...
21/01/2023

As I stood among the artisans, the colors of the fibers flowed before me in a mesmerizing river of color. The art of dyeing fibers for baskets, a tradition passed down through the ages, was a captivating sight to behold. The artisans blended and mixed colors, sourced from the earth's natural bounty - coffee, tea, and curry powder - to create hues that were truly otherworldly.
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The fibers were gently dipped and soaked in large pans, a delicate ceremony of color and tradition. They were heated just long enough to keep them strong, before being dried in the sun's warm embrace, ready for the next phase of the weaving process.
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The Agaseke baskets, traditional and grand, were crafted from native fibers and natural off-white hues. But now, the artisans were pushing the boundaries, incorporating new and unexpected colors such as greens and purples, creating an even more enchanting tapestry of colors. Rwandan baskets were more than just objects, they held stories, culture and art, a reflection of tradition and innovation. They were a treasure to be admired, a true representation of the heart and soul of Rwanda.

Hey there 👋🏾! I'm thinking of switching things up with my feed and adding some colour 😎.I know I shouldn't pay attention...
20/01/2023

Hey there 👋🏾! I'm thinking of switching things up with my feed and adding some colour 😎.
I know I shouldn't pay attention to what others say, but I've been getting a lot of feedback that my black and white photography is just laziness on my part or that I can't come up with something different (true story 🤷🏾‍♀️). But as a creative, sometimes it's hard not to take it to heart. But I'm excited to try new things! I've got a bunch of ideas for experimenting this year 💁🏾‍♀️. It's one of my resolutions for myself.

👉🏾 How about you? Keeping up with your resolutions?

When we hear that covid-19 is being rebranded as an African issue and we've been doing the work ...
10/12/2021

When we hear that covid-19 is being rebranded as an African issue and we've been doing the work ...

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CB Vlog no 1 | Africa Nouveau 2018
CB Vlog no 1 | Africa Nouveau 2018

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Cynthia Butare

In this new era of dying mass media, online contents are fast becoming more relevant with the continuing decrease in the cost of digital outlets and the soaring of social platforms. This age is blessed with a democratizing and empowering combination that is dramatically changing the way we share and consume information, offering new exciting ways to share stories and providing a voice to anyone who is willing to use it. Is this digital media age not the best time ever?

Hi, my name is Cynthia and I am a storyteller at heart, an avid blogger, a self-taught camera operator, a bespoke wedding movie-maker, a content creator, and a content production company owner.

This platform is a labour of love devoted to all things related to content creation, filmmaking, and everything in between. From hands-on practical advice to freelancing, I share everything I wish I had known before embarking on this journey.

My journey started in 2011 when with no financial assistance and absolutely zero experience in the field, I conceptualized, filmed and edited KICKIN’ IT WITH THE KINKS, a documentary about the love and hate relationship that women from the African descent have with their hair. To this day, it has been screened in 13 countries across Europe, North America, and Africa. Not long after that achievement of a milestone, the subsequent video blog I created also garnered praise from high places as at October 2013. The platform received the Award for Best Blog of The Year by the BEFFTA (Black Entertainment, Fashion, Film, Television and Arts).