Learning Feminism from Rwanda

Rwanda has already accomplished what women in Europe are still fighting for: 61 % of parliamentarians are female. In Germany only 31 % of parliamentarians are women. This performance looks at the extraordinary rise of female representation in all parts of Rwandan society over the past 25 years due to gender quotas at the base of politics. This is juxtaposed with a critical view of Germany which has had gender equality written into its constitution since 1949. This raises a global question: if this rapid change was possible in Rwanda, why not in Germany and the rest of the world? A Rwandan and a German performer compare numbers and realities from both countries, using a drum as the central symbol of power. They also look behind the curtain: If women get empowered, how do men deal with losing power and what are the battles at home? Who washes the dishes and takes the children to school? How slowly or quickly does culture and mindset change due to quotas? What are the instruments of change?

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, three performers from Kigali will be present on video and one German and one Rwandan performer live on stage. With passionate speeches, protest choreographies, and stories of change and stagnation, all driven by an electronic soundtrack, the five performers follow this Rwandan fast-track empowerment via shining statistics through the glass ceiling and beyond. What can Europe learn from Rwanda?