Bruce Niyonkuru “Canda”

Canda is an interdisciplinary Rwandan artist and creative director born in Burundi in 1992. He started to paint in 2011 at Ivuka Arts Studio in Kigali and decided to become a full time artist in 2013.

To him, art is a moving force in history, a creating force of development, a way to explore and experience freedom. In his work, Canda is moving smoothly from fantasy imagination into reality matters which helps him create a unique holistic style by showcasing his own utopia and dystopia cosmology.

Canda has been an advocate for decolonization in cultural institutions through several international projects and residencies.

This includes co-founding Kuuru Art Space for Rwandan contemporary artists in Kigali and Milele Museum, which he constructed after spending time in Germany and encountering stolen African artifacts in museums.

He is fascinated with the dualist nature of humans as agents of creation and destruction, as living archives and as creators of history. Therefore, most of his work revolves around a humanoid image. Canda has organized and participated in several international and national art exhibitions and residencies.

Bruce Niyonkuru “Canda” is speaking at the Digital Collections Summit:

The Role of Digitisation in Decolonizing African Collections

Join us for a compelling session on how Milele Museum is transforming the preservation and presentation of African artifacts. We’ll delve into our innovative use of virtual reality, 3D scanning, and interactive web experiences to reclaim and celebrate African heritage. Hear about our journey, the impact of digital tools on cultural restitution, and our vision for empowering communities by bringing history to life. This is a unique opportunity to explore how technology can reshape the narrative and accessibility of African art and history.