Turning Pages With Kanyana

Today’s Turning Pages session was supposed to be one of those short, efficient one-on-one meet-ups — the kind you wrap up in 20 minutes and walk away feeling productive. But that was before Landrada Kanyana showed up.

Kanyana, Assistant Manager at Ihema Lodges on the edge of Akagera National Park, arrived with the calm confidence of someone who reads, thinks, and means it. Before I could even settle into my moderator role, she had gently — and skillfully — taken over the session. No permission requested. None needed. She just glided into the driver’s seat and took me for a ride.

And what a ride it was.

For the first stretch, we talked about the Turning Pages program itself: its sustainability, its potential, how to keep the flame burning for the long term. Then the conversation expanded (and expanded…) into Rwanda’s tourism sector — the gaps, the opportunities, the next big thing no one is paying attention to. It was one of those conversations you don’t want to interrupt, even though technically, I was the moderator.

Eventually, I had to gently reclaim my role and remind both of us why we were here: Visit Rwinkwavu — the booklet at the heart of the session. We took a thoughtful detour back to Rwinkwavu, revisiting its charm, spirit, and the reasons it continues to inspire. Together, we reimagined the sector’s little secrets tucked inside that corner of Kayonza District, then zoomed back out to look at the bigger picture.

By the time we wrapped up, an hour and twenty minutes had passed — the longest one-on-one session I’ve ever had. And honestly? I didn’t mind. Kanyana is the kind of reader you can talk to all day without realizing how fast time is moving.

Session 104 didn’t just flip pages — it turned them with energy, curiosity, laughter, unexpected depth, and a shared love for stories that spark something new.

A one-on-one? Absolutely.
A quick session? Not even close.
A memorable one? Without a doubt.