Hewa Rwanda at BAM Is a Next Wave Night to Plan With Care

Hewa Rwanda - Letter to the absent comes to BAM Fisher from October 7 through October 11, 2026, as part of BAM's Next Wave season. BAM describes the work as Dorcy Rugamba's music-theater tribute to family members killed on the first day of Rwanda's genocide against the Tutsi, presented with Senegalese multi-instrumentalist and singer Majnun.

This is not a casual culture-calendar filler. It is a 90-minute performance without intermission built from memoir, poetry, song and storytelling. The planning question is whether you want a serious, intimate night and enough time afterward to process it.

What BAM says to expect

BAM says Rugamba first performed passages from his memoir during the Kigali Triennial in 2024 and now presents the work at BAM with Majnun. The official page frames the piece as an ode to those absent, to memory and culture, and to a search for spirituality after unfathomable loss.

That description is enough to plan the emotional tone. Readers should not expect a conventional musical, a light concert or a plot summary that can be absorbed while checking a phone. The subject matter deserves attention.

How it fits Next Wave

BAM's Next Wave 2026 page says the season brings artists working in dance, music, poetry, theater, film, memoir, puppetry and opera, with an emphasis on history, legacy and how the past shapes the present. Hewa Rwanda sits squarely inside that frame.

The season page also notes the broader DanceAfrica legacy context for African artists in the season. That is useful for readers choosing among many BAM fall events: this is one of the works where memory, diaspora, performance and musical collaboration are the draw.

Tickets, venue and timing

BAM lists Hewa Rwanda at BAM Fisher's Fishman Space, with tickets starting at $40. The page also notes online, phone and box-office fees, as well as BAM bundle and member discounts that may affect the final price.

Because the run is limited, choose the performance first and then plan dinner or transit around it. A no-intermission running time can be a gift on a weeknight, but late arrivals and mid-show exits are more disruptive in a smaller performance space.

Access and content checks

BAM's visit information covers its buildings, directions and accessibility resources, but program-specific needs should still be confirmed before purchase. Ask about seating location, step-free routes, listening devices, captioning or any other support that determines whether the performance will work for you.

The subject matter also deserves a content check. The official description directly references genocide and family loss. If you are inviting someone else, name that honestly rather than treating it as a generic night at BAM.

Before you go

Use BAM's official event page to confirm the exact performance time, seat availability, fees, venue entrance and access details. Leave time for Fort Greene transit and for a quiet landing afterward.

This article was verified September 28, 2026 from BAM's official Hewa Rwanda, Next Wave and visit pages. Reconfirm performance times, ticket availability, fees, venue access and content information before buying.