Intore

What it is

Intore is a dance for men. Women do not take part. It belongs to two neighbouring countries, Rwanda and Burundi. A group of dancers moves together, and the piece is built around themes of war. The performers once carried real weapons; now they hold copies. Outsiders often meet the dance at public ceremonies, where a troupe is invited to open or mark an event. Behind the performance lies long preparation, since only men judged suitable in body and character are taught the steps.

Origins and history

The dance reached Rwanda in the 1830s. According to the account usually told, a royal figure named Muyange left the kingdom of Burundi after fighting broke out there and was given refuge by the king of Rwanda. From the court the dance spread. In the years before colonial rule it was a war dance of the Tutsi military, and its numbers took battle as their subject. When that era ended, real weapons were dropped and copies took their place, so that the dance could be shown on peaceful occasions. It has stayed in use since, at gatherings of families and at ceremonies of state.

Training and values

Places in a troupe are not open to everyone. A candidate is assessed on two things: his build and bearing, and his character. Those who pass begin a course of instruction. They are taught the steps of the dance and the way the body should move while performing it. Alongside this they receive lessons in moral values, and those lessons are treated as part of the dance itself. Knowledge passes from one generation of dancers to the next. A man who completes the training can then join the group in public.

Drums and melody

A drum ensemble carries the dance. Anywhere from seven to nine drums may be used, and their playing builds a driving, repetitive pulse that holds the dancers together. The rhythm is insistent, and the men follow it closely. Between the drum passages the lulunga is heard. This instrument carries eight strings and is of the harp family, and it supplies the melodic line. The two together give the performance its shape: strong percussion for the body of the piece, a softer melody to break it up.

Recognition and change

On 2 December 2024 the dance was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The decision came at the nineteenth meeting of the committee that watches over such heritage, which met that year in Paraguay. The listing places Intore alongside other living practices from around the world and asks states to safeguard it. For those who dance it, the recognition states that the practice is worth passing on. Performances continue at national events and private family occasions in Rwanda and Burundi.

How Intore is kept

A group of trained men performs together. They are chosen first, judged on appearance and conduct. Training follows, covering the steps and a set of moral lessons. At the event itself, drummers take their place and the rhythm begins; the dancers answer it in lines and shifting formations, holding copies of the weapons their predecessors carried. The piece is usually about war. A lulunga player fills the gaps between drum passages with melody. The performance is given at family gatherings and at national ceremonies, in Rwanda and in Burundi.

When and where

Intore has no fixed date. Troupes are called on as occasions arise, so it can be seen at any time of year: at public ceremonies, at gatherings of families and at events of national importance. Timing is set by the event rather than by a calendar.

The dance belongs to two neighbouring countries, Rwanda and Burundi, and it is kept in both. It has been present in Rwanda since the 1830s, arriving from the kingdom of Burundi, and it remains tied to the court and to national ceremony there. Troupes in Burundi keep it too.

What Intore means

The second name, Dance of Heroes, says what the dance has meant. It honours the courage of fighters, and the movements were once read as a display of strength and discipline. Dancers who carry copies of weapons keep the old image alive while leaving the violence behind. The moral teaching given during training matters as much as the steps: a dancer is meant to show restraint and good character, so the performance stands for both skill and conduct.

Questions people ask about Intore

See also

KaryendaA sacred drum of Burundi that symbolized the monarchy and announced royal events.UmugandaA monthly morning of mandatory communal work and civic gathering across RwandaHalayA traditional line and circle folk dance kept across Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, and Syria.PoiA Māori performing art of swinging tethered weights in rhythmical patterns.

Good reading and sources

• Amani Festival: The DR Congo music festival celebrating lifeBBC, Article
• Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee 2024UNESCO, Heritage listing
• Amani Festival: The DR Congo music festival celebrating lifeBBC, Article
• Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee 2024UNESCO, Article

• Intore on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.