This lady has put serious strains on a beautiful vision, following last week event, an all-dayer family friendly social gathering dubbed Roast & Art Carnival, we received the visit of the police not once, but twice.
First at 4pm, second visit by 6.45pm. The reason? Noise Pollution!!! On a Saturday after noon!
See the images of the event below.
Now under pressure of the authority, the Root House had to stop all activities, all trades, even in silence, we cannot serve a coffee or a meal to our guests, friends and visitors as it would be considered as ignoring a warning, an illegal act and forced closure will follow. Meaning a padlock on the gate of the house where some of us live??
Yesterday we submitted a letter to the Mayor requesting an urgent one to one meeting. We do not believe the highest authority of the city is fully aware of the details of the situation we are facing and we do not believe the enforcement of such a decision necessarily needs his approval. Local authorities have that power and only the Mayor, with a full understanding of the details, could, can and we hope will intervene in our favour.
We have been painted by our complaining neighbours as a "nightclub", the local authority sees the Root House as a "cabaret with loud music" - For you visitors, guests, friends, partners and clients...you know this is a misconstrued understanding of what Root House is really about and this spiteful depiction of our space by our neighbour is causing serious and unfair damages to a beautiful project and vision.
It is sad and unfortunate that instead of being supported and encouraged by our authorities, some elements of the local authorities have chose the path of blind enforcement instead of dialogue, understanding and a quest for consensus. The police responded to many of our complaining neighbour calls, we must have received over a dozen visits in the past 3 months. Each time, they left with a friendly handshake and gentle warning for us to be cautious of the sound level. Why? Because at a only one occasion, they found that the sound level was indeed high! We swiftly move the party inside, and the issue was solved.
Out of 10+ visits, let me say this again, only once police found out the level were high and we fixed it within minutes!! All the other times, they have found the place quiet, few people sharing drinks, talking, no wild dancing, no excessive sounds, it was visible that even themselves were surprised to find out there was no real justification for their presence beside the fact that they have the obligation to answer Noise Pollution calls. But no Noise Pollution was to be found!! Do they left with a hand shake. Nice!
One of the landmark event at Root House is Muoto Muzika - An event celebrating traditional culture and musicianship stripped down of all modern technical complication and inconviniences - Muoto Muzika is a weekly acoustic session happening around a fire pit.
We appreciate the RNP, they have been very kind to us and have shown understanding at all occasions.
The issue may only come down to how much influence a UK expat can exert on our local authorities. How come an healthy social and cultural initiative created and invested in by Rwandan nationals can be destroyed by a single person, an expat, a foreigner to our culture and values. How does that work?
This is what we are about to find out. Root House will survive! There is no way we will be made to feel that even in our own country, a foreigner can keep perpetuating this idea that their comfort and interests is more valuable and important than anyone else in that country!
We are doing our best not to come up as victims and play the racial card ... but if skin privileges exist and is encouraged in Rwanda, it will need to be addressed, discussed and dissected so we can all understand whose interests Rwanda is suppose to protect and defend.
If you have not yet sign the petition, I invite you to sign it at your earliest convenience... by respect of our ways, values and our authorities, we will not yet dispatch or distribute this publicly as we wait to have the opportunity to meet the Kigali City Mayor personally and present our case to him, face to face. In the meantime, your support so far is highly appreciated. We have gathered 52 signatures and many powerful comments from a wide range of people: partners, artists, professionals, expats, diaspora and visitors.
True blessing to have such a supportive network. Have a blessed day.
Thank you! Link to petition below. Peace
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