The Inanga and its place in African music (Option one) In the documentary Inanga: A Song of Survival in a Daughter's Rwanda, Sibomana Athanase says: “After the drum , the inanga is the queen of all traditional instruments” (Inanga: A Story of Survival in a Daughter's Rwanda). For Rwandans it is an instrument deeply rooted in tradition and culture, but as time passes it is slowly losing its appeal across generations. Traditionally associated with the Tutsi people, the identity of the inanga lies in its historical origin. Played in courts to appease Tutsi kings, or mwami, the inanga became a concrete symbol of the contention and division of power that separated Rwanda into two distinct groups (Barz, McGovern). It is impossible to evaluate the meaning of the inanga without first considering the historical context of Rwanda. It is in this context that the inanga acquired its meaning, both as a symbol of destruction and rehabilitation. It is crucial that the role of the inanga is assessed from an African perspective; only then can the instrument be fully appreciated as a national symbol rather than as a primitive and insignificant artefact. The role of the inanga as a political instrument was determined by cultural conflict. Until Rwanda was colonized by Germany in 1890, Rwandans had no concept of racial differences and only the Banyarwanda, the people of Rwanda, existed (Barz, McGovern). This racial division between Hutu and Tutsi was created and implemented by the colonizers. The Hutu were determined to be the inferior race. Short and heavy, Hutus were considered “born to lead” while taller, thinner Tutsis were considered “born leaders” (14.4). Therefore, when Rwanda became an independent nation in 196… at the center of the paper… it openly supported the tradition. Instead of neglecting music, we need to appreciate it. Then and only then will we be able to consciously appreciate music for what it is, instead of contributing to the problem and promoting the disappearance of African culture in music. Works Cited Barz, Gregory, and Patrick McGovern. Inanga: A daughter's story of survival in Rwanda. 2010. CD insert. Vanderbilt University, Nashville.Barz, Gregory F. Music in East Africa: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. NewYork: Oxford UP, 2004. Print.Inanga: A Daughter's Story of Survival in Rwanda. prod. Gregorio Barz. Perf. Sophie Nzayisenga, Kirusu Thomas, Sibomana Athenase, Meddy. 2010. Global Music Archive. Network. April 15, 2014.Stone, Ruth M. Music in West Africa: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. New York: Oxford UP, 2005. Print.