Okay so, it’s been a WHOLE MINUTE, well, a WHOLE HOUR since the last post🫣!

No excuse, except that I basically pulled a disappearing act on y’all😭, my bad! Don’t count me out yet, because I came back with another wild story from our past for all of us to process, hehehe.

Anywayyy, grab your tea/water/milk/coffee, because I ain’t trying to get closed down by RIB for ibyuma (illicit alcoholic drinks) 😂. This story got spies, a marriage that ruins a war strategy, and a king who is ALWAYS in his feelings, sooo, LET’S GOOO!!!

Okay, so during the Kidogoro expedition, we saw that King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his army defeated the Bunyabungo Kingdom! King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had been fighting this kingdom for YEARS (with many failures as victories💀💀), to the point that it had basically become part of Rwanda. Except there was a tiny problem: Rwanda couldn’t officially claim the kingdom until its king had surrendered (in this case, baby King Rutaganda and his regent, the Queen Mother Mugeni Gahwijima) and the Bunyabungo royal drum (Karyamahugu, literally, the eater of countries) in custody.

Just.. ICONIC NAME!

So yeah, in his true fashion, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili launched a whole military operation to go collect a mother, son, and a royal drum!!

In the chaos of the war, baby King Rutaganda and his mom, Queen Mother Mugeni Gahwijima, had fled to a place called Bishugi (in the current South Kivu, DRC) under the protection of a local chief/king named Katabirurwa. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili tried the polite route first (for once, hehehe); he sent a messenger to the local strongman, aka Katabirurwa, to hand over the fugitives, since there was no beef between them!

PLOT TWIST!

Katabirurwa had MARRIED Queen Mother Mugeni Gahwijima‼️ He wasn’t just hiding the Bunyabungo royal family; he was now part of it 🤯🤯. Basically, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was asking the man to hand over his own wife and stepson. Obviously, he said no. Would you😳?

With diplomacy dead, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili resorted to espionage! He sent 2 guys, Rubago and Semusaro, to go undercover as refugees fleeing the king’s wrath (their explanation was credible because King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was notorious for his anger). They mapped out the entire territory🕵🏾, then Rubago dipped out on some flimsy excuse and reported back!

King Kigeli IV Rwabugili then pulled together his attacking army. He tasked the conquest to 3 army regiments: his personal guard, the fierce Ingagurarugo, the Abarasa, and the famous Inyaruguru, plus backup fighters from the Kinyaga region (the current Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts). They launched the attack from a spot called ku-Rusozi (today’s Bukavu, South Kivu, DRC). Hence, the battle was called the ku-Rusozi expedition.

They attacked Katabirurwa’s place at dawn with zero warning‼️ Nonetheless, the dude still managed to kill one Rwandan soldier (Mujugira) before getting taken out himself by the guy’s battle buddy called Rugoli. Gotta respect the man; he went down fighting🗡️

With Katabirurwa dead, Queen Mother Mugeni Gahwijima had nowhere else to hide; she was caught and brought to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. However, her son, baby King Rutaganda, was lucky; he was rescued by his entourage and smuggled out amid the chaos before anyone clocked his disappearance‼️ LOYALTY!!!

King Kigeli IV Rwabugili offered her a deal: ahem, she would be safe, but she would be a subject now. Her response is basically the coldest thing you’ll read all week. Allow me to paraphrase her: “You won’t do nada!! You killed your own people, and you think it’s me whose life you’ll spare? Congrats, you’ll throw away an empty sack; my son already got away.” 🎤💅🏾. Then she asks to see a guy named King Mbwana, who oversaw Ijwi Island, a vassal of the Kingdom of Rwanda! He was the reason behind the fall of Bunyabungo Kingdom, as he organized the flotillas 🚣🏾‍♂️🚣🏾‍♂️ that destroyed their defenses. They brought him in; she looked him dead in the eye and said, “Ah, so THIS is the guy who ruined me.” Those were her famous last words as she was executed the same night!

Y’all thought it was the end?? Think again! In most of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s stories, there's gonna be some murder plots and banishments towards the end 💀.

IT IS WHAT IT IS 🤷🏾🤷🏾.

In the previous Kidogoro expedition, someone ruined the victory by spreading cattle plague 🐄🐄 from the north (it didn’t end well for him…). The plague ripped through the entire country, reached the southwestern shores, and crossed to Bunyabungo, whereby the military camp’s cattle were affected. The commander of the military camp, Chief Bisangwa bya (son of) Rugombituri, left camp for some personal business. In his absence, chaos erupted: the ENTIRE garrison mutinied because there were few cows for the army 💀💀. Knowing that they had broken a sacred military code, they all packed and left, abandoning the outpost! Their logic?? King Kigeli IV Rwabugili can’t kill them all!! Yoh! The man was unpredictable!!

The crazy news reached King Kigeli IV Rwabugili‼️ He held an emergency meeting about the mutiny. Too many people to execute!! Instead, he decreed that every mutineer’s ENTIRE family gets stripped of their status.

Brutal but expected. However, some people became unintended victims🤦🏾‍♀️! Chief Gacinya had died of natural causes, and his sons, warriors Gihana and Gakwavu, had official permission for his funeral, meaning they weren’t part of the mutiny. But they got demoted anyway! When King Kigeli IV Rwabugili realized the blunder, he couldn’t get back on his decision because, by tradition, ROYAL DECISION WAS NEVER WRONG🤦🏾‍♀️. To get himself out, he joked, “Well, that’s your dad’s fault; why did he have to die at the wrong time?”😬. Yep, the family unjustly lost everything, and nothing could be done about it. SAD

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, may today’s story be a lesson to us all: think it through before you decide, because you never know who’s left in the wreckage; lives, a nation, and the whole world can be at stake!!

Until next time, stay safe, wise, hydrated, and drink less!

Source: Un Abrégé de l’Ethno-histoire du Rwanda par l’abbé Alexis Kagame.

📜 NEXT: The day of the bullet: How Western rifles landed on Rwandan soil

Ladies and sons of Ladies, we’re back, back!! I know, I know, it’s been a while, and you had started to think Rwanda Rewind had itself become history 😅. Between honoring the Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which demands reflection, and collecting an MSc 🎓(yep, your girl just graduated with a degree in Space Studies; think satellites, astronauts, moon landings, security, law, and policy🚀); adulting has been humbling, hence our blog had to wait. But we're here now!

With my excuses out of the way😅, grab a chair and get ready for some historical tea!!

Let me set the scene: Rwanda’s royal court, centuries and centuries ago. Two clans are staring each other down, each insisting that its claim is rightful. No swords drawn but genealogy maps, tradition, and an aura that says, “We know exactly who we are, and you ain’t gonna change anything.”

Welcome to Abacyaba’s story of ancestral identity, one of Rwanda’s most fascinating clans, counted among the many clans descended from the Abanyiginya Clan, yet with roots tangled with the Abazigaba Clan, which I know is making everyone scratch their heads, HEHEHE!! Don’t worry, I got you!!

It all starts with a woman, Nyirarucyaba👩🏾. She was no ordinary figure; she was THE ONLY daughter of the OG Gihanga Ngomijana, and the first to domesticate cows in Rwanda! If you’ve heard of her story, you know that our girl Nyirarucyaba fled her home and married without her family’s knowledge, so no dowry was offered to them. TAKE NOTE OF THIS, because it’s the core of this entire story!!

In Rwandan tradition, when a woman marries, and her family receives a dowry (yep, sometimes they can refuse it 🫠), the children born of this union belong to her husband’s lineage (what can you say, we have a patrilineal society). Basically, the dowry legalized marriage (think of today’s civil wedding)! So what happens when there is no dowry? WELL, children were claimed by their mother’s side. Meaning, they had the right to inherit alongside their maternal uncles.

Today’s lesson: children born to a woman whose dowry was not received are claimed by her family. In Kinyarwanda, they’re called Abana Nkuri. I hope you learned a new term 😂.

In the case of Nyirarucyaba and her children, considering that there was no dowry, her husband’s side had no claim to her children. Therefore, her children inherited alongside their maternal uncles when their grandfather Gihanga Ngomijana passed on his inheritance, and nobody could argue otherwise🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️. They inherited a ceremonial role in the Rwandan royal court and a kingdom called Bugara (read Musanze, Burera, parts of the Gakenke districts, and some parts of Southern Uganda).

So it was, Nyirarucyaba’s children grew up, multiplied, and became the Abacyaba Clan, firmly asserting their identity within the Abanyiginya prestige. They were, in the most literal sense, the Daughters and Sons of a Lady😏😏.

Now, here comes the big elephant in the forest 😅😅: the Abazigaba Clan and their claim on the Abacyaba Clan.

The Tea is that Nyirarucyaba’s hubby was from the Abazigaba Clan!! His union with Nyirarucyaba sparked the largest lineage dispute in Rwanda. Whenever the Abazigaba Clan claimed that the Abacyaba were their children, the Abacyaba responded, “Respectfully, no! Y’all want to claim us, but you have no receipts.” MIC DROP. I mean, they were right: the Abazigaba had no claim when there was no exchange of dowry to support it. Hence, the Abacyaba held their ground. Their identity and inheritance from the Abanyiginya Clan weren’t up for negotiation. The lack of dowry for their ancestor, Nyirarucyaba, was no longer a loophole but the FOUNDATION of their identity. It defined their lineage, inheritance, and sense of belonging. To them, it was crystal clear!

When the Abazigaba Clan brought the claim to King Mutara III Rudahigwa, the man was perplexed. How could he provide a satisfying answer to both sides??? He called the representatives of the Abacyaba Clan to hear what the Abazigaba Clan had to say. The latter claimed that they were willing to provide the dowry so that the Abacyaba Clan could be acknowledged as their descendants. However, the Abacyaba Clan was not having it! Accepting this solution would mean losing the inheritance gotten from their maternal grandfather, Gihanga Ngomijana. As a result, they refused to let go. They remained counted among the descendants of Abanyiginya Clan, the same way as Abashambo Clan, Abagesera b’Abahondogo Clan, and Abatsobe Clan, who trace their lineage from the sons of Gihanga Ngomijana👑.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies😉, that's how the Abacyaba became Rwanda's first Abana Nkuri. Nonetheless, the Abacyaba are a clan that takes pride in their matrilineal ancestry, from the legendary Nyirarucyaba, the woman who not only changed her own fate but the country's forever!!

Centuries and decades later, the Abacyaba are still here, still enjoying their ancestral inheritance, still chill and unbothered😎. And this energy? Timeless!

Stay tuned for the next story, which I hope won’t take a whole MSc program to arrive, lol!

📜 NEXT: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 14)

Alright, Alright, Alright, after our little history trip to the spirit realm, we’re back to the land of the living! So, to make this transition easy, grab a hot cup of milk/tea/coffee, or any other hot beverage (I mean, the weather is dictating us to stay warm). Now settle in, because the following story is purely cinematic! It’s full of battle tactics, psychological warfare, immense courage, and a plot twist no one saw coming… a cow disease 😳🐄.

To ease us into the main narrative, here’s the background: This episode is part of the many wars waged by King Kigeli IV Rwabugili against the Bunyabungo kingdom (read: South Kivu, DRC). Called the Kidogoro expedition, this war meant total conquest for King Kigeli IV Rwabugili.

With this short context in mind, picture this: it’s between 1892 and 1893. In this pivotal period, Rwandan spies bring the news to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili that the old Bunyabungo King, Byaterana, had died‼️The heir to the Bunyabungo throne?? A child 👶🏾👑, called Rutaganda. Naturally, it fell to the Queen Mother, Mugeni Gahwijima, to act as regent on behalf of her son, Rutaganda. My people, in moments like this, when leadership is fragile, we need to be cautious, as someone looking for an opportunity to strike is always watching 👀. In this case, that person was none other than King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. Having faced a few disastrous war expeditions, this time, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili didn’t rush into action. Also, he already had influence in the northern region of Bunyabungo, especially in Itambi (South Kivu, DRC), as local chiefs, Nkiko Baramba and Ruhangara, had sworn allegiance to the Rwandan crown. Hence, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, having a military base in the Bunyabungo kingdom, mobilized a massive army‼️

If we had to name every Rwandan battalion in this expedition, we would not sleep! Here are a few: Ingagurarugo led by Chief Ruhangara, Uruyange by Chief Kabare ka (son of) Rwakagara, Abashakamba by Chief Rutishereka, Inyaruguru by Chief Rwabatambika, Impamakwica (the tireless killers, yep, gotta let the name sink in…) led by Chief Mbanzabigwi (in this expedition, led by Chief Rugenera), Intaganzwa by Chief Nturo (who, being young, was represented by his older brother), Ibigaza by Chief Mugenzi, Abashozamihigo by Chief Rukaburacumu, plus 2 IJwi island battalions: Inkeramihigo under Chief Mbwana and Ibidakurwa under Chief Kamaka. The overall leader was Prince Karara, son of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili👑⚔️.

Once preparations were completed, flotillas🚣🏾‍♂️🚣🏾‍♂️ filled the waters, and warriors crossed to reach the camp of Chief Ruhangara in Itambi. To start the hostilities, Chief Ruhangara and his unit marched on the closest Bunyabungo camp, led by Prince Kabi, who lived in Kidogoro (the locality that gave the expedition its name). Crazy thing, Prince Kabi was Chief Ruhangara’s uncle😳😳. Luckily, Prince Kabi was not at home; hence, Chief Ruhangara and his army fought another Bunyabungo contingent. The clash was brief, and the smaller Bunyabungo force was quickly defeated. The warriors regrouped and prepared for further instructions.

The war had only begun🔥🔥! King Kigeli IV Rwabugili ordered Chiefs Kabare and Rutishereka to camp in Kidogoro. Meanwhile… the enemy is watching 👀. Prince Kabi, far from fleeing, gathered reinforcements⚔️⚔️. With Chiefs Rwabika, Mfizi, and Mukungu, he returned stronger. Believing in their forces, the Bunyabungo chiefs brought Queen Mother Mugeni Gahwijima to a hill to see the Rwandan camp. She declared, “How can these Rwandans, sitting on so little land, expect to last a day? I want them out immediately!”

No talks, the Lady King wanted war💅🏾. The first Bunyabungo attack occurred during the day, with 3 coordinated columns advancing from different directions, like a tightening net. However, the Rwandan army was READY. In this battle, Rwandans practiced the saying, “If you stay ready, you ain’t got to get ready.” They swiftly reorganized to respond to the attack. Two of the Bunyabungo columns were crushed, and the third retreated without even engaging💥💥.

To Rwandans, it was a Victory Day‼️ Was it the end? A RESOUNDING NOPE! Licking their wounds and reeling from their defeat, the Bunyabungo forces decided to try something sneakier, a night attack. I gotta give it to them: the plan was clever. One group would act as a decoy and attack with loud war cries. The second, the main group, would advance silently for the strike‼️ Being seasoned generals, the Rwandan commanders weren’t fooled. Instead of reacting blindly, they calmly analyzed the situation and positioned their troops exactly where the real danger lay 🎯.

And when the main group arrived in silence? They were met with an ambush, confusion, and overwhelming defeat💥💥. In the darkness, fighters could barely see, spears flew in every direction, and the attackers, completely disoriented, retreated in chaos😵‍💫😵‍💫. By morning, the result was unbelievable, only ONE Rwandan soldier was wounded, he was struck with a spear in his shoulder blade, and it was likely due to the chaos😶😶…

At the Rwandan camp, soldiers and commanders danced in celebration! They had upset the enemy and claimed victory! On the Bunyabungo side, rage consumed them. A few days later, a Bunyabungo messenger arrived and boldly announced: “Count 3 days. We will attack on the day after the 4th! Don’t miss out!”

I mean… what😅😅?! When the Rwandan messenger brought back the news, no Rwandan military chief took the announcement seriously; they laughed at the Bunyabungo’s declaration of war. An anecdote about this episode is that the Rwandan messenger was called Ndaruhutse (literally, “I am resting” 😅). Hearing his name, his Bunyabungo counterpart exclaimed, “What a liar! Your king brings you here to fight us, and you claim to be at rest?!”

Bringing us back to the battlefield! Spoiler alert: the Bunyabungo team wasn’t joking, though the Rwandan side laughed off their warning🫠🫠. Yup, on the appointed day, Chiefs Kabare, Rwatangabo, and Kamaka left the camp with many warriors to report to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. They did not find him in his camp; he had just left for his residence in Kinyaga (read southwest Rwanda), slightly ill.

Meanwhile, a shift was underway at the battlefield: With most Rwandan warriors having left for the royal camp to curry favor🙄, the Bunyabungo prepared for a showdown⚔️‼️ Only Chief Rutishereka and a few soldiers remained. Without breaking a sweat, Chief Rutishereka efficiently organized a single battle line with 2 wings (a single line is called uruhembe, large horn) and a center (umukondo). The Bunyabungo formed several successive lines (intambi), each replacing the previous, to maintain pressure on their opponents🥴.

Chief Rutishereka and his few troops fought with precision. The Ijwi soldiers, led by the Inkeramihigo, requested permission to lead and exhaust the first Bunyabungo line, allowing others to attack the rest. The Bunyabungo’s offensive turned into a complete disaster‼️ The Rwandans won, but not without loss; several warriors died, and many were wounded. Victory was hard-earned💔💔.

Now, remember that Chief Kabare&Co had gone to meet the King on the D-Day? Well, when he returned and learned what had happened, the man wept! Had they been defeated, the man declared that he would have unalived himself😳😳. My people, that’s how high the stakes were. They had no excuse before King Kigeli IV Rwabugili.

Cue to victory celebration! When King Kigeli IV Rwabugili heard of the victory, he rushed to celebrate his warriors!! He sent a royal envoy dressed and treated like the King himself! Listen, the treatment was not for nothing. The envoy, Karega, was a war hero with 21 battlefield kills and had been honored through the Gucana uruti ceremony (lighting/cremating/burning wood), the highest military honor in ancient Rwanda🗡️🔥. His presence was the King’s way of telling his army that he was proud of them and that they had made history.

Y’all thought the war was over?? Well, nope‼️

After their crushing defeat, Bunyabungo was psychologically broken. And King Kigeli IV Rwabugili thought he could completely dominate them😶. His war strategy? The main army would stay with the King, while the elite forces, e.g., Ingagurarugo, were sent on raids! Villages, towns, all were conquered with zero fighting! Why? People fled before the Rwandan forces even arrived! Nonetheless, the Bunyabungo weren't done yet! They tried to sneak a night attack, but they were defeated, and several assailants were left for dead💀💀. Knowing where the Bunyabungo military HQ was located in a fortified marshland, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili decided to launch a counterattack. As nothing remains rosy under the skies, the attack didn’t go smoothly. When Rwandan forces pushed into the marshlands of Kanywilili, they met a worthy opponent. A Bunyabungo war chief called Kiraba transformed the marshland into an impregnable military camp🛡️

And this time? The Bunyabungo resisted, and it was Rwanda’s time to suffer defeat🫠. Nonetheless, their resistance wasn’t enough to change the bigger picture. One by one, the Bunyabungo military chiefs surrendered. Only Chief Kiraba refused not only out of pride but also out of fear. He knew that his surrender meant death, as he was the commander behind the annihilation of Rwandan chiefs, Nyilimigabo and Nyamushanga, with their warriors during the Kanywilili expedition.

Just when you think the story is wrapping up… disaster strikes!

A commander in the north, Munigankiko, raided hundreds of cattle 🐄 from Ndorwa (south Uganda and Northeastern Rwanda) and embarked south to see King Kigeli IV Rwabugili.

But there’s a problem. A HUGE problem‼️

The raided cattle were infected with Lumpy skin disease (known as umuryamo), a devastating livestock plague that causes fever, reduced milk production, and bovine deaths…☠️. Rushing to ingratiate himself in front of the King, he unknowingly spread the disease along the way. By the time anyone realized what was happening, it was too late 😭. The plague had entered Rwanda ☠️. The King’s response? Swift and harsh. Chief Munigankiko was disgraced, exiled, and then executed. I mean, he had caused a national disaster. As if that wasn't enough, smallpox (ubushita) invited itself to the dance floor. Rwanda was devastated by 2 diseases, which turned a military victory into a loss.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, today’s story was long, but it had to be told😌!! Yes, Rwanda won the war against Bunyabungo, but what followed should remind us of something deeper:

With the desire to impress, to prove loyalty, to be seen, we sometimes forget to pause, to question, and to protect what truly matters (ahem.. our lives).

So let Munigankiko be our lesson. Let’s not rush to curry favor. Not every moment calls for display. Not every success needs to be performed. Oftentimes, wisdom lies in restraint, in moving carefully, thinking ahead, and guarding your steps even in times of victory.

Until the next tale unfolds, keep your mind sharp, stay hydrated, and carefully measure your steps…

Source: Un Abrégé de l’Ethno-histoire du Rwanda par l’abbé Alexis Kagame.

📜 NEXT: A Battle of Lineage: How the Abacyaba Clan Refused to Be Claimed by the Abazigaba clan

Greetings, fellow history lovers!!

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, today we’re diving headfirst into one of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Rwanda’s spirituality: the concept of Kubandwa, a world where humans and spirits shared the dance floor 😁👻.

So, let’s step into the secretive and exclusive world of spirits, the famous world of the legendary diviner, Ryangombe rya Babinga‼️

So… who was Ryangombe rya (son of) Babinga?? The man, the myth, and literally, the spirit king🤣!

I would say he is a semi-mythical figure who became the leader of the spirits’ pantheon in the cult of Imandwa. Like Marvel’s multiverse, Ryangombe has many origin stories. Since we’re focusing on Rwanda, my piping-hot tea ☕ will be confined to the Land of a Thousand Hills 😁. In Rwanda, there are also many versions, but the most famous suggests that Ryangombe rya Babinga hailed from the land of Kitara (western Uganda), north of Lake Rwicanzige/Edward. He came to Rwanda after meeting King Ruganzu II Ndoli during the latter’s conquests in the Muhabura region. According to oral accounts, he saved King Ruganzu II Ndoli during one of his many military expeditions, and as a reward, he was granted the right to journey into Rwanda as he pleased.

Due to his magical powers (that’s what was said…😅), Ryangombe amassed followers. They followed him everywhere he journeyed, and they were known as Abacwezi. Get this, Abacwezi is also a name given to an ancient ruling dynasty of the Kitara Kingdom (modern Uganda). Therefore, it is plausible that Ryangombe was indeed from Kitara and maybe a prince (I mean, why not?)🙂. In Rwanda, Ryangombe quickly became famous. His divination skills surpassed those of many local seers, and he practiced a spiritual tradition, Kubandwa, that was foreign to Rwanda at the time. Interestingly, he used to travel to Burundi for the Kubandwa ceremonies in his lifetime, indicating that the cult was already well established in the Great Lakes Region before it reached Rwanda! But like many legendary figures, Ryangombe’s story ends dramatically. According to the legend, he was tragically killed by a buffalo💔.

After his passing, Ryangombe became one of the most powerful spirits in the Imandwa pantheon. His followers believed his spirit could protect, heal, and guide them in both life and the afterlife, where they hoped to join him on Mount Kalisimbi.

Yep, don’t ask, but their heaven was a dormant volcano🥲🥲.

Hear me out! We gotta settle this debate once and for all! Contrary to popular belief, Ryangombe WAS NEVER worshipped as a god!!! He was considered a king spirit, a powerful mediator between Imana, other spirits, and the living‼️ Think of him as a spiritual representative rather than a deity!

Now, what were the Imandwa? Well, they’re both the spirits and the initiated members of the Kubandwa cult. Among the most famous Imandwa spirits aside from Ryangombe are: Binego (Ryangombe’s son and successor), Ruhanga (another Ryangombe’s son), Kibogo (a Rwandan prince, son of King Ndahiro II Cyamatare), Nyabirungu, Kagoro, etc. Altogether, the Rwandan Imandwa pantheon included around 40 spirits 👀, including Ryangombe, his family and followers, animal spirits, and some Rwandan heroes. These spirits were believed to influence every aspect of human life, including agriculture, fertility, health, hunting, marital love, and prosperity.

When you think of this pantheon, think of a cool gang and its leader, but in the spiritual realm, hehehe👻👻.

What exactly was Kubandwa?

Kubandwa can be roughly defined as the act of becoming one with a spirit. When someone became part of the cult, they could be spiritually “possessed” by one of the Imandwa spirits during rituals. Before becoming a full human Imandwa, one had to go through an initiation and a confirmation ritual, each guided by a godparent, aka a spiritual sponsor! To my Catholics, the concept of godparents wasn’t new to Rwandans; the ancient practice of Kubandwa had it down before the arrival of white priests😌‼️

During ceremonies, initiates spoke a special ritual language called Urukonjo, a distorted form of speech used partly to maintain the secrecy of the cult. Listennn, secrecy was serious business!! So if someone today claims they know all the rituals of Kubandwa…be careful, you might be facing a scam 😳😳.

That said, scholars have documented some aspects of the cult across the Great Lakes Region, including spirit names, ceremonial attire, and fragments of the Urukonjo language.

For French speakers, some fascinating studies include Le Culte de Ryangombe au Rwanda and Le langage des Imandwa. Happy reading 😁😁!!

A Religion for Everyone

The cult of Kubandwa spread widely in Rwanda during the reign of Kigeli Mutara I Semugeshi. According to oral traditions, during his reign, a great calamity (possibly a disease) struck the country, and diviners were summoned to appeal to the spirits of our ancestors to alleviate the chaos. However, the local spirits seemed powerless in the face of the disaster, so the royal court sought Imandwa's help. Guided by the diviners, the royal court instructed the entire population to join the Imandwa cult so that the Imandwa spirits could defeat the epidemic. Strangely enough, the disease disappeared😅😅. One thing to know is that during this ritual, King Mutara I Semugeshi and his heir, then Prince Nyamuheshera (later Kigeli II), didn’t partake in the ceremony as it was taboo for a Rwandan King to kneel before another king. YUP, his allegiance was only to Rwandans and IMANA💪🏽💪🏽. Nonetheless, the royal court appointed a royal courtier to perform the rituals on behalf of the King. This office was held by the Abayumbu family from the Abashambo clan until the Imandwa cult was abolished by the Belgian colonial administration.

One of the most interesting aspects of Kubandwa was its inclusivity. The Imandwa cult welcomed men and women, and people of all social classes. This equality gained them many followers, along with other reasons, such as healing from illness, protection from misfortune, a great harvest, and plentiful cows, as well as for solving other issues that necessitated spiritual intervention😌😌. One principle of the cult that impressed me is the community. Among the human Imandwa, loyalty was sacred. No matter the circumstances, members were expected never to betray one another. You would rather die than harm a fellow Imandwa‼️

That’s loyalty right there!!!

In many ways, Kubandwa functioned as both a belief and therapy, and as a society at once. During ceremonies, normal hierarchies dissolved. For a few hours, there were no kings, no nobles, no common folk; instead, spirits ruled over the living, the latter becoming servants of the spirits‼️

As I had mentioned, Kubandwa wasn’t confined to Rwanda. It was practiced in other parts of the Great Lakes Region before its importation in Rwanda‼️ It has been traced in Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and some Eastern parts of the DRC. Long before colonial borders divided the region, cultures and beliefs flowed freely across hills, rivers, and kingdoms.

My people, my spiritual globalization was a thing centuries before THE globalization came around😂😂!!

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, before colonial rule and missionaries arrived, before ancient beliefs were dismissed as barbaric, Rwandans already lived within a deeply spiritual universe. They believed in IMANA, and they honored their ancestors. Through a foreign belief, Kubandwa, they created spaces where healing, community, and the unseen world intertwined.

Remember this: Before Churches, Mosques, and colonial borders, Rwanda already had a rich, dynamic, and profoundly communal spiritual heritage!

See you soon, as we journey back to the land of the living and continue to follow the colorful life of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, Inkotanyi cyane🛡️⚔️.

📜 NEXT: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 13)

I admit… I’m still pulling a disappearing act and vanishing for a while😅. I might be MIA, but our history doesn't sleep, hehehe, our King Kigeli IV Rwabugili didn't put his sword down⚔️🗡️, nor did his warriors chill.

Buckle up, after the spiritually unsanctioned coronation of Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was called upon to lend a hand to a neighboring King. What ensued was a dramatic rescue, which turned into a bloodbath🩸☠️☠️.

When the Bushubi King (an ancient kingdom in the eastern region), Kibogora, died, the succession game exploded💥💥. His legitimate heir, his son, Prince Nsoro, inherited the throne, but his uncle, Grand Prince Rwabigimba, saw an opportunity and fought his nephew💔. Almost overnight, the Bushubi Kingdom became a battlefield, loyalties split, and the kingdom was torn in two💔. Cornered and with no options, the unfortunate Prince Nsoro (now King) remembered that he had a powerful neighbor to the west: Rwanda. He rapidly sent envoys across the hills to beg help from King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. The latter didn't hesitate!! He sent his army commanded by Chief Seruzamba. This army was composed of soldiers from the Abarasa, Ndushabandi, Uruyange, Inyaruguru, and Inyange battalions.

The Rwandan army poured into Bushubi like a typhoon, confronting the rebellion. It was fierce but short🔥! The pretender’s forces (Grand Prince Rwabigimba) were smashed, and he fled to Burundi. To thank the Rwandan army, King Nsoro ordered that the ground be covered with mats so that they wouldn’t sit on grass. He also gave them many fine cloths for themselves and the Rwandan King, while other lavish gifts were sent to Rwanda in gratitude.

For a moment, calm reigned in Bushubi. But until when….? Well, the short answer is, it didn’t take long 😥😥.

Humiliated but not broken, in his refuge, Grand Prince Rwabigimba tried a new weapon: diplomacy. He dispatched 8 envoys, laden with gifts, to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili in hopes of gaining his favor. Instead, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili ordered their execution😬😬. The man had 0 chill… King Kigeli IV Rwabugili made it clear: he had already chosen his side, King Nsoro.

Pissed off, pretender, Grand Prince Rwabigimba reopened the hostilities, and King Nsoro called for help once again. Another Rwandan military expedition marched on Bushubi, but this time led by Chief Kabaka. The battle was swift, and the pretender was easily defeated. However, this victory turned sour😬. Our Rwandan troops spent longer than planned in Bushubi, as they had to pacify the kingdom. As a result, they found themselves in a tricky situation. Faced with taboos, they couldn’t drink the region’s beer or milk from the local cow, Ingweba (Zebu cows). Hunger gnawed at them, which led to sickness🤒🤒. Fed up and exhausted, the soldiers turned their anger on King Nsoro🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. They accused him of poisoning and bewitching them, so that they now cultivate the land at night in a zombie state 🤦🏾‍♀️. Their chief, Kabaka, sent the message to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. As someone with a short fuse, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili ordered Chief Kabaka to arrest the very man he had protected TWICE!!!

Y’all already know, without going into details, what followed was slaughter💔. King Nsoro, his brother (Grand Prince Biyombo), his 2 sons, his daughter (Princess Kambibi), his 2 wives (Royal Consorts Buhoro and Mukananika), and his queen mother, Mukuru, were arrested. They had lied to King Nsoro, telling him that he was being sent to the Gisaka kingdom to reign over the territory; in reality, he was marching towards his death. POOR GUY. Hence, the Bushubi royal line ceased to exist💔💔.

But this unjust bloodshed did not bring peace. Soon after, Kigeli IV Rwabugili fell violently ill‼️ A scorching fever gripped him so fiercely that he spent a full day submerged in water to cool his burning body😨😨. Thankfully, he survived, but his epidermis skin layer had peeled off 😬😬. Like clockwork, people started whispering that the sickness wasn’t ordinary; it was the restless spirit of King Nsoro, demanding justice. YOH, HEADS WERE TO START ROLLING‼️

Royal diviners were summoned, and the verdict was in; to calm King Nsoro’s spirit, Chief Kabaka had to go‼️ To make it worse for the guy, Chief Kabaka was already standing on shaky ground. As the chief of the eastern frontier, he was responsible for foreign trade between Europe and Asia; and since it was through barter trade using cattle and ivory, Chief Kabaka had warned Kigeli IV Rwabugili that doing trade with Europeans showed them that Rwanda was rich and that they might one day covet Rwanda’s riches and invade the country‼️ He added that he had heard that they were powerful and no African king had managed to defeat them.

In support of Chief Kabaka, this was before the Battle of Adwa in March 1896, which opposed the Ethiopian Empire under Emperor Menelik II and the Italian colonial army (look it up, it’s one of the most glorious events on African soil! I’ve listened to Ethiopian poems depicting the event, and they’re epic‼️). The battle ended in the Ethiopian Empire's victory, making it the first African country to defeat a European colonial power💪🏾💪🏾.

Sadly, his statement became his death sentence. His enemies loudly claimed, “What madness! To claim that there exist foreigners capable of defeating the King of Rwanda! Kabaka is a traitor!”💔💔. As usual, Kigeli IV Rwabugili was not amused! The judgment was swift and merciless; he ordered the transfer of King Nsoro’s remains from Gisaka to Bushubi for burial and the execution of Chief Kabaka. Both bodies were buried in Bushubi, marking the end of the Bushubi expedition.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, thus the end of our short but chaotic saga marinated in ambition, loyalty, and a pinch of royal insecurity. The takeaway from this history lesson is that in the world of kings and competing rivals, today’s victory can easily turn into tomorrow’s curse; so mind your words, cultivate your friendships wisely, try to eat and drink healthy (sneakily promoting Tunywe less😁😁) and please don’t execute (in our time, fire) people when you might need them in the future, hehehehehe.

Stay tuned and see you soon on Rwanda Rewind!!!

📜 NEXT: Mysticism in Old Rwanda: the secretive cult of Kubandwa

Dearest readers (yes, Bridgerton season 4 part 1 is out😉), grab a seat as we revisit one of the most infamous chapters in our history, the intronisation of Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa‼️ It was an enthronement forged in broken sacred laws and royal favoritism.

Ready? Ladies and Sons of Ladies, let’s get started!

According to the historian, Abbé Kagame Alexis, the enthronement of King Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa as a co-ruler occurred on the 22nd December 1889, which coincided with a total solar eclipse‼️ In ancient mysticism, a total solar eclipse was a bad omen, meaning that the heavens were not happy with the future king, i.e., Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa. Aside from the natural phenomenon, what should have been a neat coronation turned into one of the most explosive episodes in Rwandan history💥💥.

In Rwanda’s Ubwiru (the Esoteric code), only the kings named Mutara and Cyilima were allowed to name their co-regnants (their heirs), Kigeli, while they were alive, and their heirs had to inform them of their successors, aka the future Mibambwe. Basically, the Mutara and Cyilima left this Earth having enthroned their successors and knowing who among their grandchildren would become king. For King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, by enthroning a co-regnant, he was breaking the rules of Ubwiru 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️; only a Kigeli could be enthroned as co-ruler, but could not appoint his own successor that way. So, right out of the gate, this enthronement was technically illegal…🥴🥴.

Now, things get messier‼️In the Ubwiru, it was mentioned that when the heir to the throne had lost his mother before the coronation, he must be given an adoptive Queen Mother (Umugabekazi w’umutsindirano). The rules stipulated that she had to come from the same clan as the prince’s biological mother (share blood) and she must not have borne a son to the reigning king🫤🫤. You might wonder why there were such rules!! WELL, ancient Rwandan philosophy believed that power flowed through the MOTHER! Hence, both the heir and his mother were crowned guardians of the sacred royal drum, Rwoga (before Ruganzu II Ndoli) and Kalinga.

My people, WOMEN in Leadership is not something new in the Land of a Thousand Hills✌🏽✌🏽.

Remember that Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa’s mother had been executed because of the deadly conspiracy against Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere, the mother of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili? Well, he needed an adoptive queen mother! Considering that his maternal family had been almost decimated during the purge against those who conspired against the Queen Mother, Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa found himself without legitimate support. And what did King Kigeli IV Rwabugili do? HE COMPLETELY IGNORED THE LAW AND ENTHRONED HIS FAVORITE CONSORT, drum roll… KANJOGERA, as the Queen Mother💥💥.

For the Abiru (the royal ritualists), this was madness‼️ One, Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa’s mother was from the Abakono clan, while his adoptive queen mother was from the Abega clan. Both the Abega and Abakono clans might have been Ibibanda clans (select clans for the queen mothers) and ancestrally related as they share a common ancestor, but this choice was against the Ubwiru‼️ Two, Royal Consort Kanjogera already had a son with King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, Prince Musinga. This meant that her son was now eligible for the throne 👀!!!

CHAOS in the royal palace!! Just what the Ubwiru was trying to prevent‼️

Before King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, his father, Mutara II Rwogera, had already weakened the system by allowing his maternal clan, Abega, to gain access to the inner secrets of Ubwiru. The beneficiary was Chief Rwakagara, son of Gaga, and brother of the Queen Mother of the time, Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi. Now, this man was the father of the new adoptive Queen Mother, Kanjogera. She also had several brothers, among whom the 2 principal ones, Kabare and Ruhinankiko, enjoyed great favor with Kigeli IV Rwabugili.

King Kigeli IV Rwabugili made it worse by granting the 2 brothers the privilege of knowing the Ubwiru, thereby making them their father's successors. As a result, they learnt the secret of succession‼️ In short, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili greenlit the war of the throne without realizing it 🗡️👑😔. However, the royal court wasn't blind; they tried to steer him in the right direction. One poet wrote a poem titled “Urugo rugwije imbaga” (the household whose members are multiplying). Translation, hehehe? In the poem, the poet meant that the family of the new queen mother was too powerful and would eventually eliminate the royal children to enthrone their nephew (Prince Musinga), and that it was necessary to render this family harmless by stripping it of its social and political power.

King Kgeli IV Rwabugili was not amused. Ahem, he accused the poet of crossing the line. To save his life😬😬, the poet backtracked with a new poem, Ndi umuyoboke w’umwami (I am a faithful subject of the king). Yes, the warning poem was erased, but the danger remained!

Feeling the cold silence of disapproval from the Abiru, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili decided to seek guidance from the most venerable among them, Bibenga, son of Bagaruka, who lived outside the palace and had served under King Mutara II Rwogera. The king asked, “What do you think of Mibambwe’s enthronement?” Bibenga replied brutally, “Until now, you were Kigeli, son of Mutara. From today, you are Kimali, son of Rurenge.” He told the king that by making this decision, he was bringing disaster to the kingdom, as Kimali, an ancient monarch of the Abarenge Dynasty (hang on tight, I’ll cover this subject soon), had brought disaster upon his subjects and his dynasty through his reckless actions.

Did King Kigeli IV Rwabugili do anything about it? Nyet‼️

Here is another kicker, to conservatives and radicals, Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa was not the true heir of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, as he was not his biological son. He was adopted by the monarch when his mother became a royal consort‼️ Thus, the many imprudences of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili in this matter were overlooked, and Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa found himself shunned by a large faction of the royal courtiers and influential Abiru.

Without a maternal clan as a shield, nor the full support of Abiru and royal courtiers, disaster was looming for Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa💔💔.

And then, a total solar eclipse happened 🌑! To all observers, the heavens were against this coronation‼️ However, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his allies attributed it to a foreign diviner from Bushubi (present-day Tanzania) who was present at the royal court. Fearing that killing him on the Rwandan soil would curse the Kingdom, they sent Chief Rugambarara to kill him in Bushubi. Once they had crossed the border, diviner Bihomora perished🫠🫠. Did it erase the fact that the coronation of King Mibambwe IV Rutalindwa was marked by a total solar eclipse? NYET, everyone kept the phenomenon in mind; for them, the future king was cursed… Poor guy!!

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, what started as an easy peasy enthronement of a co-ruler became chaos. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili thought he had crowned a successor, but ushered in a period of betrayal, ambition, and bloodshed. Unknowingly, the seeds that had been sown earlier were in full bloom, and the Kingdom drifted towards Rucunshu.

But that reckoning is for another day‼️

📜 NEXT: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 12)

I know… I’ve been missing since December💀, no posts, just silence, hehehe. But listen, I’ve receipts! First, I was busy submitting my master’s thesis, which kept me occupied until now! Second, I unfortunately caught the super cough, which had me questioning my existence, lol. Lastly, there was recovery mode and the chaos of the New Year!! But I’M BACK, still alive, lungs reinstalled, and the New Year unlocked! And, of course, history is once again messy😌.

So welcome back, and let’s rewind our Time Machine to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his reign.

In part 8, we saw the tragic deaths of Chief Nyamushanga of Uruyange (the bloom) and Chief Nyirimigabo of Intangazwa (the unbeatable) during the 2nd Bunyabungo expedition, also known as the Kanywilili expedition. Without surprise, heads were going to roll; trust King Kigeli IV Rwabugili to make it happen💀💀. And that was without cause; the death of Chief Nyirimigabo left a dangerous power vacuum at court. Into that vacuum emerged 4 King’s favorites👀: the most favorite, Bisangwa, son of Rugombituli, Mugugu, son of Shumbusho, Ntizimira, son of Musuhuke, and Nzigiye, son of Rwishyura. Get this, within each pair, they hated each other: Bisangwa vs Mugugu, Ntizimira vs Nzigiye. While the first rivalry didn't make much waves, it was the second that would set the kingdom on fire and blood🔥🩸.

The story's culprit, Chief Nzigiye, wasn't born into power; he literally clawed his way into it. He was once a servant of Chief Rwigenza, late Chief Nyirimigabo’s paternal uncle. Before dismissing him, Chief Rwigenza had Nzigiye tortured‼️Nzigiye never forgot nor forgave. From that day, he vowed a terrible hatred towards Chief Rwigenza’s entire family. In short, a 🐍 in the making, but can you blame him? Seeking survival, Nzigiye joined Chief Gacinya, son of Prince Rwabika (son of King Yuhi IV Gahindiro). He became Chief Gacinya’s exclusive messenger to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. Clever, refined, and observant, the King took notice of Nzigiye. Impressed by his intelligence and elegance, the King asked his boss to give him Nzigiye, just like that, the man, Nzigiye, transitioned from a servant to the King’s favorite to Chief😏.

Now, Chief, Nzigiye aimed higher. His son, Rwatangabo, was of marriageable age. To seal his new status, he asked for the hand of Mutegaraba, the daughter of his former boss, Chief Gacinya‼️ As the new favorite of the crown, the refusal was out of the question for Chief Gacinya as Nzigiye stood higher than him. Hence, he accepted, and the marriage was arranged… or so they thought! Unbeknownst to everyone concerned, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was also arranging marriages at the royal palace. He gave his daughter, Princess Karunganwa, to Karugu, son of one of his favorites, Chief Ntizimira. During the celebrations at Mount Kigali, Karugu’s brother Gashegu danced so magnificently that the King rewarded him! Guess the reward??? A bride from the royal family, who was none other than Mutegaraba, the fiancée of Chief Nzigiye’s son‼️

BOOM! By unawareness, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili poured oil on fire💥💥!

Hearing the news, Chief Gacinya, the father of the bride, sent 16 cows 🐄🐄 to Chief Nzigiye to calm him down. Being rational, Chief Nzigiye politely accepted the “compensation cows,” I mean, Chief Gacinya was also a victim, he was minding his business when the King gave the hand of his daughter to another suitor 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️. BUT, Chief Nzigiye was fuming!! Someone had to pay for the “humiliation”☠️☠️. As a result, in front of the King, Chief Nzigiye openly attacked his rival, and Chief Ntizimira was caught defenseless. He publicly accused him of plotting the death of Chief Nyirimigabo during the Kanywilili expedition by conspiring with Chiefs Nkundukozera and Kinigamazi in placing the strongest warriors in the northern column, leaving Chief Nyirimigabo without seasoned fighters. During that public accusation, Chief Ntizimira was accompanied by his son, Karugu. The son, hearing the accusations, collapsed in shock. I mean, he knew his father was innocent, and on top of that, he was recently married to the King’s daughter💔💔. Furious, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his procession crossed the Akanyaru River to reach Bugesera. In fear, Karugu, Chief Ntizimira’s son and King’s son-in-law, pretended to hunt and then fled…🏃🏾‍♂️. Whether it was compulsive or naive on his part, this single act sealed his family’s fate💔💔. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili ordered the extermination of Chief Ntizimira and his sons☠️☠️.

Thus, the purge of Ntizimira’s house and friends began‼️His other son, Gashegu, was arrested while on honeymoon with his wife, Mutegaraba. His younger brother, Kabwa, was also arrested, and both were executed💔💔. The only surviving son was Rwasamanzi, who lived due to his maternal uncle's intercession. Their father, Chief Ntizimira, and their surviving brothers, Karugu, Ruteranayisonga, and Rwidegembya, decided to flee to Burundi. Sadly, the news had traveled fast, and they were arrested and executed. Chief Ntizimira managed to reach his destination but was gravely wounded, succumbing to his wounds. Thus, the House of Ntizimira lost its spark💔💔. The other accused, Chiefs Nkundukozera and Kinigamazi, weren’t lucky either. Chief Nkundukozera was executed, while Chief Kinigamazi fled to Burundi without ever returning.

To satisfy his vendetta, Chief Nzigiye decided to falsely accuse Chief Ntizimira's friends so that his head won’t roll next. LISTEN, the royal court’s intrigue…MADNESS. Cue Chief Nzigiye plotting against the celebrated hero Nyiringango, his brothers, Rugango, Gahima, and Kanyamibwa, Ngamije, son of Rudakemwa, Rwayitare, son of Rutishereka, two brothers, Rutaburingoga and Murembyabugabo, sons of Ndungutse, Kabahigi, son of Shumbusho, and Nyirindekwe, son of Mafubo and nephew of the powerful Chief Kabaka.

During this period of internal unrest, Rwanda had attacked the small kingdom of Buhunde (North Kivu, DRC) and its king, Nyamunonoka, had been arrested. Through their carelessness, the Rwandan warriors gossiped in front of the prisoners, unaware that the prisoners could hear their language🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. Once in front of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, Nyamunonoka knew that he had to play his cards right, even if his life was sealed. Hence, he falsely accused warrior Nyiringango of saying that King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was becoming unpredictable and dangerous, like an animal ready to kill his own💔💔. To the King, whether it was the truth or a conspiracy, it was enough to sentence the man. Knowing that their fates were sealed, the accused, aka the friends of Chief Ntizimira, tried to negotiate with the man holding their lives in the palm of his hand, Chief Nzigiye, but he refused to budge. Only Kabahigi, son of Shumbusho, and Nyirindekwe, son of Mafubo and nephew of the powerful Chief Kabaka, were left out of the conspiracy, one because Chief Nzigiye feared a gruesome vendetta if he ever touched the hairs on Kabahigi’s head, as his brother, Mugugu, was one of the grand king’s favorites, and Mafubo was just a kid from Gisaka who had zero business in the Rwandan royal court’s interest.

See how minding your business doesn’t send you to the Underworld?? LOL

Back to the remaining victims! To save their sons, Rudakemwa, Ndungutse, and Rutishereka gave up their property and titles. Others were in deep trouble, especially Nyiringango‼️ Because of his status as an Umudende warrior (a medal of valor awarded to a warrior who slayed 7 enemies on the battlefield), King Kigeli IV Rwabugili wanted to remove his heroic acts. A royal igitaramo (gathering) was organized. Lesser warriors were encouraged to challenge Nyiringango’s title. One of them, Munigankiko, challenged him, but Nyiringango calmly replied, “What makes you dare speak against me is what makes me remain silent.” OOOUFFF! Irritated, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili tried to entice others, but no one dared to challenge Nyiringango. The King snapped, well, I might do it myself then‼️ Bravely, Nyiringango defended his honor. The more he resisted, the madder the King became, which was exactly what the vindictive Chief Nzigiye wanted. Basically, everything was according to plan‼️

The next day, Nyiringango was arrested along with his three brothers and the two sons of Ndungutse, and they were executed. Remember, Ndungutse had redeemed his sons, Rutaburingoga and Murembyabugabo, by agreeing to give up all his properties. Upon hearing the news, Ndungutse committed suicide. To the country, his death was a HUGE LOSS. He was the guardian of Kalinga, the sacred royal drum.

One by one, the companions in arms were erased 💔💔. And Chief Nzigiye? He was exactly where he intended to stand, next to the King, without any opposition.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, this was not a war of kingdoms but of wounded male egos. From a simple miscommunication over a woman's hand, betrayal watered by fear and royal insecurity bore a tragedy💔💔. Within this toxic environment, heroes stopped being the kingdom's shields and became enemies to slay. Nyiringango & co didn’t fall to an enemy’s spear but to jealousy and meaningless vendetta. As a result, Rwanda not only lost men but its greatest shields.

📜 NEXT: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 11)

Source for more history: Un Abrégé de l’Ethno-histoire du Rwanda by Abbé Kagame Alexis.

If y’all thought last week’s King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s war drama was chaotic, drink your water, because in Rwandan history, one plot twist is never enough! Welcome to today’s episode where backstabbing ends in blood and tears‼️

Without further ado, let me serve you today’s tea🤣:

After the Kanywilili expedition in Bunyabungo (South Kivu, DRC), everyone thought it was time to chill. However, some people are born to be restless😤. Nkundiye, the Ijwi island vassal king, had gained the trust of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. He had proved his usefulness during the expeditions to Bunyabungo and his personal army, Inzirabwoba (the fearless) were organized in similar fashion as the Rwandan army with 2 squads: Inkeramihigo (the brave for great deeds) and Abutububa (the heads held high) integrated within the Rwandan army structure‼️

Basically, Vassal King Nkundiye ruled Ijwi island without interference as he had the trust of his boss, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. Nonetheless, being close to Kigeli IV Rwabugili came with risks. As y’all have read, ahem, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili … um… wasn’t exactly gentle with his own peeps💀. After watching King Kigeli IV Rwabugili inner circle politics turn into seasons 1&2 of Game of Thrones, Vassal King Nkundiye thought,“One day I’mma be next💀. Let me run before someone schemes to have my head on a platter.” So what did he do? He ran back to the island and declared it independent‼️ WELP!

Before you throw thrones at him, HEAR ME OUT: Vassal King Nkundiye had been beefing with one of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s favorites, Chief Ntizimira. Fearing for his life and witnessing the repeated defeats suffered by the Rwandans at Bunyabungo’s hands, he made the decision to rebel judging himself strong enough to stand up to Rwanda as his Bunyabungo counterparts had done it🫠🫠.

Let me tell ya, while the man thought he was strong enough to win the battle, the grim reaper was leisurely sharpening his scythe👻😌.

The news of sharpened spears and swords reached King Kigeli IV Rwabugili during a national celebration. He noticed two warriors from Kinyaga (Southwest Rwanda) and pulled them on the side to get the tea! The 2 men told him that there is no peace in the southwest with Nkundiye’s rebellion and that he might be invading Kinyaga next. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili didn’t even finish his drink, he stood up, grabbed the 2 men and left the party‼️ Everyone was confused! From Chiefs to royal servants, everyone scrambled to follow him once they realized the man was truly leaving😬😬.

Before the spears clashed⚔️, y’all need to know one thing: Vassal King Nkundiye wasn’t dumb. He had 2 fleets patrolling lake Kivu 24/7 in anticipation of Rwanda’s attack‼️ He had told his men, “we will farm for you but you need to stay on those boats😅.” And they did that! His 2 army companies, Abajegezi (the Shakers) and Abahimuzi (the Avengers) blocked the Rwandan attacks. Not being able to break through during the day, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili decided to attack at night🌚. But guess what? The ever resourceful Vassal King Nkundiye had the SPY, Cyabanyeli, planted at the royal court👀.

Whenever Rwandans would plan a nocturnal attack, he would send a signal to Nkundiye by lighting a large fire🔥. Consequently, Rwandan troops would be repelled by the Ijwi fleet. It went on for some days, until Chief Rutishereka sniffed out the betrayal and exposed the spy to the King!!! In return, they plotted a diversion: they would announce their usual nocturnal attack and let Cyabanyeli do his thing so that he wouldn’t realize his cover was blown😌. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili even said to his Chiefs, “don’t kill him yet, I will kill him after he has witnessed my triumph on the island.” OUHHH, COLD‼️ Then, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili commanded his Chiefs, “Choose from your armies the best warriors, each accompanied by their bravest servant, and let them come request a leave🫤.”

My people, read a battle trick… those who requested a leave didn’t go home, instead they were sent to Mpembe, a small peninsula near Karongi, where a fleet was waiting for them‼️ They were chosen as follows:

• 34 warriors from the Uruyange under the command of Ndaruhutse, son of Mutsinzi.

• 60 from the Abashakamba under Mbanzarugo, son of Muyenzi.

• 60 from the Abarasa, under Chief Kabaka himself.

• 40 from the Inyange, commanded by Chief Cyoya himself.

• 20 from the Interanamacumu under Chief Bisangwa (yep, the famous Bisangwa!!).

• 30 from the Imbanzagukeba under Chief Ntizimira, commanded by his son Ruteranayisonga.

For those who are wondering if the famous Ingagurarugo partook in the attack, yes they did but the oral accounts only kept the names of the most famous🫠 chosen by Mushamba, son of Sayinzoga as King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had ordered him, “choose those whose bravery equals your own and those who are superior, but not those who are inferior to you.” The King was no longer joking, he was hungry for a win and he would get it no matter what‼️

To distract Nkundiye, the Rwandans staged fake attacks on lake Kivu, the islanders kept pushing them back, not realizing the REAL invasion was sneaking into the island. Then one morning… Ijwi island was on fire🔥🔥. The Rwandan warriors who had attacked the island had burned down Nkundiye’s residence at Gitambi, then his Chief Munanira’s near Rubona. The island was in CHAOS‼️

By day 7, Rwanda’s forces were at Nyakarengo, face to face with the main island camp. Nkundiye panicked and fled to the smaller island of Ishovu.

Nkundiye’s remaining fleet tried to hold out on Ishovu blocking the assaults of Rwandan forces. However, Rumashana, son of Kabego (an Ijwi prince) on the Rwandan side, requested a huge boat with warriors and to everyone’s surprise, he broke the blockade like it was nothing💥. The island fell. Nkundiye’s soldiers capitulated and returned to serving King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. Insane, right???

As for Nkundiye, the man was still on the run. The raid on Ishovu forced him to escape once again but he was tracked down. Refusing to die at the hands of his enemies, he drowned himself in lake Kivu 🌊. Four days later, his body resurfaced and was taken to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. Plot twist! His OWN SON, Gatebera, had ratted on him hoping to inherit the island throne. THE messiness🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. But King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had had enough with the island kings, so he handed Prince Gatebera to the executioner, ending the Ijwi island dynasty🫠🫠.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, once the fires had cooled, swords back in their sheaths, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili moved onto the next drama! As for Nkundiye, he became a cautionary tale whispered in ancient gatherings and retold here on Rwanda Rewind. He became a living reminder of the simple rule of survival, don’t bite the hand that fed you!”

See you next time with more tea, as we continue to delve into King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s drama extravaganza!

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Friday 19/12: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 10)

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, gather around! After the DISASTROUS first Bunyabungo expedition, our man, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, was grieving, his warriors had perished, his pride was bruised and he couldn't digest it! Everyone thought he’ll sit it out! WRONG‼️ Just a year later, after mourning rituals and ceremonies were completed, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili announced a second expedition, “a revenge expedition”🫠🫠. For this time around, he was prepared. He summoned a stacked lineup:

• Inyange - The White Ibises (led by Commander Cyoya) divided into five companies: Injyamubiri (the Front-line Chargers) and Abasoni (the Respectables); Itanganika (the Lake Tanganyika), Abarara (the Campers), and Amatara (the Columns on the march) who were less seasoned.

Now, here’s the tea: the Inyange company were Burundians‼️ Internal power struggles arose in Burundi culminating in unaliving some of the powerful clique, hence Commander Cyoya deciding to emigrate to Rwanda and enter King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s service. One’s loss = One’s gain.

Other regiments were:

• Ingangurarugo (the Vanguard/those who reinforce the army) with the addition of the Ibisumizi (the Hand-to-hand Fighters)

• Abashakamba of Chief Muhamyangabo

• Uruyange (the bloom) of Chief Nyamushanga

• Intangazwa (the unbeatable) of Chief Nyilimigabo,

• Inzirabwoba (the fearless) of Chief Nkundukozera, successor to Prince Nkoronko

• Abarekezi (the releasers)

• Abarasa (the shooters) of Chief Kabaka

• Abasharangabo of Chief Nyagahanga, but commanded on this occasion by his son Nyiringango

• Inzirabwoba (the Fearless) - another company, led by vassal King Nkundiye of the Ijwi island

• Imbanzamihigo (the pioneers of great deeds) of Chief Ntizimira son of Musuhuke.

The commander in chief of the second expedition aka the Kanywilili expedition was Zimurinda, son of Semurima (member of the Company Inshozamihigo, the 2nd of the Royal Guard).

Meanwhile, the word that Rwanda was geared up reached the Bunyabungo Kingdom!! Cue, they placed their strongest warriors in the Rusizi valley, inside the papyrus swamp of Kanywilili (hence the name of the war!!). The Bunyabungo companies were led by Chiefs: Kiraba son of Byaterana, Mfizi son of Kakira, Rwabika son of Byaterana, Prince Gituza son of Tabura (grandson of son of King Makombe), and Chief Muzuka.

Now that both sides were READY, the battle seemed inevitable‼️

For their offense strategy, Rwandans were split into two columns: The first column, commanded by the Commander in chief Zimurinda, crossed the Rusizi river at Cyanyamwishyura (opposite the present-day Bukavu, DRC). It was to attack Kanywilili from the north bank of the river. The second, commanded by Chiefs Nyirimigabo and Nyamushanga, crossed the Rusizi at the foot of Mount Ruhinda. It was to attack Kanywilili from the south bank💥💥.

On the first day of the battle, DISASTER struck! The Rwandan second column was cut to pieces by the soldiers led by Chief Kiraba of Bunyabungo🩸🩸☠️☠️. Among the dead were Chief Nyamushanga of Uruyange (the bloom) and Chief Nyirimigabo of Intangazwa (the unbeatable). Their buddies in the first column stationed on the north bank of the river watched helplessly as the second column was annihilated😭💔💔. While they watched their friends being slaughtered, they were also under heavy assault from the Bunyabungo soldiers from dawn until dusk🥴! Reason? After cutting through the Rwandan soldiers on the northern bank, Chief Kiraba of Bunyabungo run to the other side to reinforce his comrades! Had it not been the reinforcements from the Ingangurarugo, Abashakamba, Abarasa and Inyange, the first column would have also perished at the hands of the Bunyabungo army‼️

Seeing the intense battle and knowing King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s fierce desire to win, Commander in chief Zimurinda established his HQ on the battlefield. TALK ABOUT GUTS‼️When the Rwandan soldiers retreated, they would bump into him and were forced to push the enemy back😬. As a result, the Rwandan army defeated the Bunyabungo side, they set on fire the Bunyabungo camp during the night and completely beat them on open ground, which led the defeated side to flee into the papyrus marsh. PHEW…😮‍💨😮‍💨

Both sides regrouped, the battle was to resume the next day‼️

The next day, the Inyange (the Burundian company) fighting under the command of Majanja, a lieutenant of Commander Cyoya, had been placed on the right wing, next to the Abarasa, on the right of the Abashakamba, who were followed by the Ingangurarugo, forming the left wing. Commander Majanja of the Inyange arranged his warriors in a different formation; his battle line was scattered‼️Worried of the unfamiliar formation, Commander in chief Zimurinda sent reinforcements but Commander Majanja refused them, telling them that their usual tight formation makes them an easy target to enemy arrows! And he perfectly demonstrated the ingenuity of his tactic: his scattered, more flexible line had only three wounded: Ruhogo, Nduhiliye, and Rwabika. Moreover, the son of the enemy Chief Kiraba was struck by an arrow to the neck shot by Nyamukeba, a member of the Inyange‼️

With the loss of their valiant warrior and prince, the Bunyabungo troops retreated to observe their mourning ceremony, without thinking of resuming battle. While in their camp, they pondered on their situation and decided to stop the war entirely🙃. How? They would send cows to the Rwandan camp as they thought that Rwandans only fought to seize cows 😅😅. On their side, Rwandans thought the cows were a trap.

LISTENNN, in espionage and war, mostly women are the designated honey trap but for our ancestors cows🐄🐄 were the stars 🤣🤣

Refusing to “fall for the trap”, they refused to intercept the cows as they were weary of fighting. I can’t even imagine, the trauma, the pain, and tiredness😟. In the meantime, Commander in chief Zimurinda had sent a message to King Kigeli IV Rwabugili who had remained in Kinyaga (read southwest Rwanda), to tell him that Kanywilili was impenetrable. He asked for the next plan! The King’s response arrived the next day: the boys had done well, the expedition is done‼️Without missing a beat, the soldiers packed and left Bunyabungo.

Do not get it twisted! Kigeli IV Rwabugili stopped the expedition not because he was worried of the aftermath, but because he was grieving the death of his favorite, Chief Nyirimigabo of Intangazwa (the unbeatable). Get this: his death would cause another wave of executions as it was “found” that the second column, massacred by the Bunyabungo, had been formed by TREASON, in a deliberate attempt to cause the death of Chief Nyirimigabo, in revenge for punishments he had inflicted on to others.

Karma is a …. ahem, let’s just say she clocked IN

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, thus ends the second Bunyabungo expedition! Another account of bloodbath, loss but also bravery and tenacity! Cheers🥂🥂 to our ancestors for their resilience and their raw strength!

See you next week for more battlefields led by none other than Kigeli IV Rwabugili, Inkotanyi cyane⚔️🔥.

Source for more history: Un Abrégé de l’Ethno-histoire du Rwanda by Abbé Kagame Alexis.

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Friday 12/12: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 9)

My peeps, how are y’all doing?

Continuing where we left off with the wild tales of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his military expeditions, today, we’re sailing into the southwest, to the Kingdom of Bunyabungo aka Bushi (parts of present day South Kivu, DRC)‼️

Without further ado, let’s sail away!

One day after one of the Umuganura (harvest festival) celebrated in Rubengera (Karongi district), our guy, Kigeli IV Rwabugili, woke and decided to attack the neighboring Bunyabungo Kingdom! Just so you know, the man had been wanting to strike for ages but life wasn’t lifing, lol! I mean, he went through a lot, from avenging his mother to punishing dissent, the man was working day and night! Finally, he went for it but VERY IMPRUDENTLY!

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, here is a story of how ONE small mistake cost Rwanda lives and victory‼️

While preoccupied by attacking Bunyabungo Kingdom, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili made the fatal blander of disembarking with a few notables, including Chief Kabare, son of Rwakagara on the shores of the enemy kingdom 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. IMAGINE!! He disembarked ALONE without an army! The locals were reticent to welcoming him, so they abided their time waiting for the orders from their King Byaterana. Seeing the hot mess they landed in, the chiefs accompanying King Kigeli IV Rwabugili sent a messenger on a boat to bring summon reinforcements😬😬. Luckily, the soldiers arrived JUST as a Bunyabungo prince, Rutubuka was ready to slaughter the Rwandan King‼️

As fate had decided, Prince Rutubuka was led to believe that King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had a message for his father, King Byaterana. In reality, it was a ruse to capture him! In the Rwandan camp, poor Prince Rutubuka was immobilized by Chief Bisangwa bya Rugombituli and Chief Karugu ka Ntizimira and killed by King Kigeli IV Rwabugili who plunged his sword in the prince’s neck🩸😱. After the death of Prince Rutubuka, all his soldiers were slaughtered on the spot.

Now, the real battle was to begin! Cue, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his war council strategizing! Here is the thing, some of the war chiefs were against a full blown attack considering the foreign terrain and the small size of the Rwandan army! Get this, the man, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had only 2 battalions (Ingagurarugo and Inshozamihigo) on this expedition😬😬. Cray, cray!!

However, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was battle hungry. When one of the chiefs, Gahuranyi, suggested a peaceful, long term strategy of populating the region with Rwandans, the King almost combusted! How dare he advise, a Kigeli King to chill??? Looking around, the King realized that one of his heroes, Nyiringango was not among the war council, he dispatched a messenger to fetch him! Knowing what the King wanted to hear, Chief Bisangwa bya Rugombituli quietly told the messenger to tell Nyiringango to come advising for war! Indeed, Nyiringango showed up advocating for war, with the army divided in 2 columns, one under the King himself and another under Nyiringango. Happy, the King announced the beginning of the expedition🔥

The expedition was called the expedition of Buntubuzindu referring to the location where the war council was held!

One of the army group was commanded by Rudakemwa and was to attack the enemy King Byaterana in his capital city Buntubuzindu, while the other group was led by Rwanyonga and was dispatched to attack Rusozi (present day Bukavu, DRC).

As for the guy Nyiringango, the oracles had “found” his blood incompatible with the battle energy, hence blocking his participation in the expedition. As a result, he was sent to Nyamasheke (western province) for some mission (no one knows what it was, lol).

The war drums thundered, spears and swords were drawn and shields prepared. The earth braced for the bloodshed⚔️⚔️

The group led by Rwanyonga battled against 2 Bunyabungo groups called Amahembe (horns) and Ibirusha (surpassors). The battle was fierce and messy but Rwandans WON, gaining a lot of war spoils aka cows🐄🐄🐄. When the Bunyabungo troops fled, they took their wives and children but abandoned cows!!

When Rwanyonga told his troops to retreat and go home, some of his troops, the members of Inshozamihigo, opposed as they wanted more action. He gave in…and ordered his army to pursue the enemy. Not knowing the terrain, they marched right into a thick forest where the enemy had camped‼️

My people, let me tell you, whatever the Rwandans thought would happen, didn’t go their way, as the whole battle strategy collapsed😭😭

Rwanyonga’s column was surrounded and nearly wiped out 😢😢, Rwanyonga himself was killed😭. The few survivors run to warn Chief Ndibyariye. Seeing the survivors and learning that the enemy was not too far, he rushed to reinforce Rudakemwa’s column. Unbeknownst to them, things were going HORRIBLE on that front😬.

Like, Rwanyonga’s column, Rudakemwa’s troops had initially won the battle against the Bunyabungo royal guards called Imvuzarubango (javelin throwers). However, things turned sour when the Imvuzarubango were constantly reinforced with fresh troops‼️Exhausted, without reinforcements, the Rwandan contingent perished under the continuous assault of the Imvuzarubango.

Another disaster😭.

One of the survivors of the first disaster had gone straight to the King’s camp to recount the tragedy. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had given him a military escort to warn Chief Ndibyariye to reinforce Rudakemwa’s column. TOO LATE‼️ They were already dead😬.

When Chief Ndibyariye reached the royal camp, it was in flames🔥🔥. What had happened was, once the chiefs had learned of both disasters, they begged King Kigeli IV Rwabugili to leave Bunyabungo but had refused‼️ They had to respectfully drag him onto the boat. The man was fuming, repeatedly screaming, “Me, defeated by the Bashi???”

The retreat though?? ICONIC to say the least!

To deter the Bunyabungo forces from attacking the royal camp, Rwandans came up with a strategy: beating drums so loud that the sound scared the enemy forces and stopped them in their tracks‼️ While the enemy was waiting, the Rwandan chiefs burned the camp, forcing King Kigeli IV Rwabugili to give up!

Under the protection the drum beats, the survivors and King Kigeli IV Rwabugili sailed back to Rwanda.

Drained, defeated with heavy losses, the King and his entourage were met with more sad news. Prince Munana, the eldest son of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and Consort Kanjogera had died💔💔.

The first expedition against the Bunyabungo Kingdom?? Unexpected, disastrous and soaked in blood and in sorrow.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, let this be a lesson to us all, STAY READY SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET READY‼️

Stay tuned, the saga continues!!!!

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Friday 05/12: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 8)

Dearest readers, keep the seatbelt on🎢, hehehe! The royal tea on Kigeli IV Rwabugili and his military expeditions continues! Today’s story picks up right after Kigeli IV Rwabugili dusted himself off from his win over Kabego of Ijwi island. You would think that he took a chill time out, napped and sipped on his drink and milk, right? WRONG! The man marched onto the next target, Murera (Musanze and Burera districts)! Why? Simple, to tame the fiery Abarashi military company that had rebelled against the crown!

Stay with me as we delve into rebellion and defeat🔥🔥

After the battle on Ijwi island, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili decided to squash any lingering dissent in the kingdom. Cue, his expedition against the Abarashi. The latter were not some small, small group, they were the redoubtable army unit of archers based in the Murera region! They were divided into 2 groups: Abakemba led by the famous Rukara rwa Bishingwe 😎 and the Urwasabahizi. During the reign of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s father, Mutara II Rwogera, the Murera chief, Sekaryongo ka Muhabwa, executed the leaders of both groups which led to their rebellion against the crown. Taking advantage of their superior military organization, they claimed autonomy, raided the surrounding areas, making the king scratch his head😬😬.

To put an end to their dissension, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili headed there HIMSELF! He established his residence in Kigarama (Kigombe, Musanze) on a platform he called Mata (milk). Learning that King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had come to fight them, the Abarashi hastened their escape to the thick forest on the slopes of Muhabura volcano (aka the Volcano national park)🏃🏾‍♂️💨🏃🏾‍♂️💨🏃🏾‍♂️💨.

Who can blame them??🫠🫠

However, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was not going to fight them head on! Our guy had learned of their military prowess, especially their archery skills and didn’t unnecessary bloodshed! Instead, he sent a messenger, Muhozi wa Nyamwishyura, with a peaceful message‼️ Hearing the news, the Abarashi sent Birushya as their envoy. The King welcomed him with a VIP treatment, gifted him a cow and reassured him by announcing that the Abarashi were pardoned and could answer his summon without fear!! PHEW😌😌

Thus, the Abarashi presented themselves before King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. True to his word, the man declared, “From this moment on, you become a company of my personal guard, Ingagurarugo, and no chief shall have authority over you.”

RESPECT 💯💯

With Murera pacified, he reinforced his authority by appointing regional leaders including, DRUMROLL…., Rukara rwa Bishingwe (yes, the Rukara y’all have heard of) as the war chief of the Abarashi, who were now part of the Ingagurarugo. To showcase his commitment, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili extended his stays whenever he visited the region. It was recorded that he celebrated 2 consecutive Imiganura (harvest festival) in the region‼️

FYI, it was from the Murera region that King Kigeli IV Rwabugili launched his Gikore expedition (Kigezi region, Uganda).

The Gikore expedition is remembered in varying accounts, however, the cause the conflict was clearly transmitted: Chief Nyirimigabo, feeling himself as the king’s favorite of the moment, decided to expand his territory at the expense of the Abashakamba army. The thing is, due to the large size of the region, military chiefs and their armies, ruled over designated territories. One area was controlled by Chief Ndibyariye and his Abalima, the other zone by Chief Muhamyangabo and his Abashakamba, another by Prince Rwabika and his Abakwiye, and the last zone led by the culprit himself, Chief Nyirimigabo and his Abagina.

People be waking up and choosing vawulence (violence, hehe)‼️ Oh, Entitlement🙄

This power play triggered a massive conflict in the region, and here is the saddest part: the punitive expedition turned out to be a DISASTER. Countless warriors and military notables perished on the battlefield and in ambushes set by the resistors!!

BUT, let me say, unexpectedly, the expedition became a blessing in disguise!! Before the expedition, Rwanda grew an indigenous sweet potato (ikijumba) variety called gafuma, which produced one tiny tuber. During the Gikore expedition, the sweet potato we know today was discovered and King Kigeli IV Rwabugili ordered all warriors to bring back a stem tied to their bows‼️

There are accounts that say that King Kigeli IV Rwabugili made a sweet potato nursery at one of his residences to ensure the plant could grow in the country‼️ As the sweet potato spread throughout the country, the little to nothing, gafuma was gradually supplanted, reducing the risk of periodic famines in Rwanda.

The man didn’t joke around with food for his people‼️

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, from subduing opponents with diplomacy, to launching a disastrous punitive expedition, to bringing home a life changing ikijumba and planting the crop himself, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili refused to fit into a single box! He was a complex and driven man, fueled by pain, rage, ambition and above all, the love for his people❤️.

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Friday 28/11: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 7)

Ahoy, my people! After the bloody revenge carried out in the name of Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere, peace (well, something like that😬) settled across the Land of a Thousand Hills! BUT this peace came at a high price; many of Rwanda’s elite commanders had bitten the dust thanks to either being part of the conspiracy or stood too close to be burned 🫠🫠.

Nevertheless, our guy Kigeli IV Rwabugili didn’t falter in his steps. Nope, after completely annihilating his internal enemies, the man remembered that he still had some business to settle on Ijwi island🌊. Remember his first expedition with his mom? YUP, their enemy King Kabego escaped and went into hiding. Now with full authority, he decided to march against the island. The man had learned his lesson the first time, the impasse (aka the lack of a fleet) faced by the Rwandan army was etched in his brain. He came prepared! Kigeli IV Rwabugili built a flotilla and ordered his commanders to train his soldiers for full on maritime warfare (our first navy, hehehe)😎😎. His carpenters made 2 types of boats: a small one with 10 seats called indere and inkuge which carried max 20 warriors. The flotilla was made up of 4 groups, each group with its chief commander, seconded by a boat’s commander.

The moment a maritime expedition was declared, boats were requisitioned by royal order. Each group’s chief commander mobilized and sent them en masse for the embarkation of soldiers. Once the expedition was over, the surviving boats were returned to its owners, in most cases, fishermen around lake Kivu. Some of these boats were called:

• Igitsirombo = the Favorite

• Umuhozi = the Avenger

• Umudaheranwa = the Unbeatable

• Intahakure = the Swift

• Ishyaka = the Emulation

• Ijuru = the Firmament

• Ishema = the Vivacity

• Kamarashavu = the Consoler

• Intashya = the Swallow

• Uruhilika = the Cultivator

• Imbabazi = the Mercy

• Inyamamare = the Famous

• Inkongi = the Fire

• Intaganzwa = the Invincible

• Inkotanyi = the Fighter

• Umuhurambuga = the Spearman

• Rutangira = the Blocked Path

• Indimanyi = the Crusher

• Nyirakabuga = the Dazzling (Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s boat)

Kigeli IV Rwabugili had another boat, Ntsinzishyaka (I have won through emulation) under the command of his buddy and favorite, Bisangwa bya Rugombituli😁😁, while his belongings were carried by the boat, Inyanja (the lake), also under Bisangwa’s command.

Now on to serious business! With his flotilla ready, he declared war against King Kabego of Ijwi island who had escaped years ago during the first expedition! As he hadn’t submitted to Rwanda’s authority, Kigeli IV Rwabugili decided to attack him again‼️He sent 55 elite soldiers with Ndibyariye as their Commander in Chief. Think of them as Navy SEALs of their time, hehehe. The expedition spent the first night on Iwawa islet😉, then disembarked at dawn to attack Ijwi island. The invaders easily triumphed over the warriors of the area who had come to block their path. The next day, things got real! This time, the 55 Rwandan warriors fought against seasoned Ijwi warriors!! The Rwandans triumphed🥳! Undeterred, the Ijwi islanders sounded their Urumaka (ivory trumpet) to rally all able bodied men for war! All rose at once under the command of their military chief, Rugamba, encircling the Rwandan warriors!

The Rwandans were cooked, 55 warriors vs 100x warriors‼️ Somehow, Rwandans gained an upper hand, killing many adversaries and suffering only 3 wounded casualties. LISTEENNN, Dunno how they managed but the 55 made it work😭! However, judging by their situation, they stopped advancing in their attack. I mean, they were cut from their military supplies and had wounded soldiers. For 2 months, the 55 survived on milk from 15 cows they had seized and rations‼️ Meanwhile, back home, Kigeli IV Rwabugili believed that the expedition had suffered a complete disaster and was heartbroken as the expedition was formed by the best of his elite warriors😭💔.

Then came a man of the hour! A guy from Kinyaga decided to check if the rumors of their death was true! Disguised as an islander and fluent in their language, he crossed the lake solo in a canoe (the GUTSSS), sneaked onto the island and managed to reach the Rwandan camp! The 55 almost unalived him😬 but he shouted the name of one of them, Ntizimira, who recognized him just in time‼️ PHEW… After learning about the situation, he returned home to inform his Chief and returned with supplies! Finally!!

Back from the second trip, he went to meet Kigeli IV Rwabugili to announce that the 55 were still ALIVE!!

Overjoyed, Kigeli IV Rwabugili wasted no time and embarked for the expedition! His guys were alive🥹🥹. As soon as he landed on Ijwi, he had his drum of audience (Indamutsa) beaten, signaling his presence!! Relieved, the 55 rushed to meet him, by attacking the son of their enemy (King Kabego). However, the son was against his father… and wanted nothing to do with him, hence allying himself with the Rwandans, joining Kigeli IV Rwabugili along with them. The next day, they attacked the residence of King Kabego but the man had fled to another location, LOL. The battle raged for 2 days on the lake and the islanders beat the Rwandans🫤🫤. Unable to continue the fight, Kigeli IV Rwabugili played a ruse to capture the evasive King Kabego. He sent gifts (ahem, bribes, ahem…) to 3 of his nemesis’ closest confidants, Nyilinkora, Rwagatenga, Ruhangamugabo. The last 2 were commanders of the island’s flotillas, OOPS!! Once the trio arrived in the Rwandan camp, they were arrested and their flotillas were attacked and dispersed😬😬. Without protection, King Kabego’s hideout was stormed and was killed by warrior Rwanyonga son of Mugabwambere. The victory was sealed by the execution of the surrendered chiefs Nyilinkora and Rwagatenga, while their buddy Ruhangamugabo was spared along with the backstabbing son of King Kabego who seconded the Rwandan flotilla🙃🙃.

As a result, Ijwi island was divided into 2 administrative districts: Marambo in the north and Bweru in the south, both under Rwandan administrators and military. Ijwi island was now firmly under Rwanda’s rule.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, our man Kigeli IV Rwabugili was a man on a mission. Once he avenged his mother, his spear pointed outward, expansion becoming his favorite Inanga (zither) tune. Like his dynastic name Kigeli suggests, he wasn’t one to sit back with a pipe in one hand and inkangaza (alcoholic honey drink) in the other. The guy needed conquest and glory‼️

Stay tuned! The saga of our intrepid warrior King Kigeli IV Rwabugili is far from over!

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Friday 21/11: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 6)

My people! Gather around because the tea is still pipping hot from last time! Remember how royal intrigue sprinkled with jealousy led to the tragic death of Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s Queen Mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere💔? Well, grab your water bottle (y’all gonna need it) because today’s story is painted BLOOD RED😬…

After King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had finished mourning his mother (the observed mourning period was 4 months), our guy decided it was payback time. But before going all bloodthirsty, he decided to get married to another wife, THE Kanjogera, daughter of Chief Rwakagara who had been on the good side during the whole debacle (the guy who suggested to chase away the snake and leave the churn, igisabo, intact in the previous post? Yep, that’s the guy). Then, he ordered an in depth investigation on the true cause of the conspiracy. As for those involved, the man had already made a mental Death Note (hello anime/manga fans😃) with names of everyone involved in the death of his mother! When I say everyone, understand that the man even took note of a fly that buzzed wrong during that time‼️

Once his chief investigator dropped the news, the King’s jaw was on the floor: the true culprits were, his uncle, Prince Nkoronko (who was also once his father) and Umwiru Karamira, the chief celebrant of Umuganura (the harvest festival)🤯🤯. IMAGINE, two of the most powerful men in the country plotted against the Queen Mother! Madness! To make things worse, the divinations of the time weren't in favor of the celebration of Umuganura. Mess over mess! Mad at what was happening in the spirit realm, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili once again consulted the spirits about the punishment of the culprits, the spirits were against spilling the blood of Umwiru Karamira, instead the King demoted him and “exiled” to Hindiro (read Ngororero district). As for the other culprit, Prince Nkoronko, things weren’t easy! First, he was a prince, a full brother of the former monarch, Mutara II Rwogera, a former spouse of the dead Queen Mother and at some point the legal father of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. You can imagine the gravity of killing him, his blood would bring catastrophic events to the country. Fuming, the King decided to play a long game until divination was favorable for his execution🥲🥲.

In the meantime, he did not hesitate to punish, I mean kill, those who were accessory to the conspiracy. Remember the chiefs who were for killing the snake even if the churn, igisabo, was damaged? Aha, do you also remember the 3 royal sister wives and their father from the Abakono clan, the direct nieces of the assassinated Queen Mother?

He started with Chief Remera (who suggested the terrible idea of damaging the churn), he got tortured and killed along with his son and successor💀. However, the King’s advisors pleaded for the son of Chief Remera reminding the King that he was loyal to his late father, Mutara II Rwogera. The King pardoned him but the son was not having it, he told the King, “the King who put me through this ordeal isn’t the same I see in front of me!” He meant to tell the King, I don’t vibe with people like you. Refusing the royal pardon, he perished along with his dad, Chief Remera😭😭.

In the King’s Death Note, one man down (well, along with his son)! Next on the list, Chief Rutungancuro, however, the man had died of natural causes. Sadly, his successor and son, Semanyonga, paid for his father’s sins. He was stripped of his title and fiefdom, which were given Chief Rwakagara’s son, kabale, for the advice given to the King. Moral of the story? Watch your mouth when giving royal advice, folks👀…

Next was his maternal family, his 3 sister wives and their father/his uncle. IMAGINE🫢🫢. He repudiated and sent them to their father, Nzirumbanje. Their father, Nzirumbanje, was supposed to be exiled to Tongo (current Masisi/North Kivu, DRC) along with his sons. One of the craziest things in this whole mess was that one of the King’s paternal aunts was married to one of Nzirumbanje’s sons, Ntamati. Before their exile, the King took away his paternal aunt, Nyiramukesha, and remarried her to Chief Ruhinankiko, son of Chief Rwakagara😅😅. LISTEN, the man was on a mission!!

On their way to exile in Tongo, Nzirumbanje shared with his people that he would rather die than be exiled in a faraway place! His comment reached the King who in return gave them permission to settle where they had reached. The banished settled in areas around the current Nyabihu and Ngororero districts. Peace at last?Oops nope… 🫠🫠 On the other end of the country, the King was abiding his time to strike once and for all!

While his revenge was brewing, the King was also preoccupied by military expeditions against Ndorwa and other regions. He took part in 2 punitive military expeditions against Ndorwa (igitero cy’amazi and igitero cy’i Bumpaka). Get this, the death of Chief Remera and his son came right after the first expedition against Ndorwa!! At the end of the second expedition, the revenge resumed, BOOM all the exiled culprits were next: Umwiru Karamira and his sons, as well as the 3 royal sister wives and their families. You might also think that the augurs had cleared the future Queen Mother, Nyiraburunga (Prince Rutalindwa’s mother)? NOPE, the lady was on the list…

Once the King was ready, he sent his death squad to Umwiru Karamira, who perished along with his 3 of his sons😭😭. He sent another to his 3 royal sister wives and their families‼️They were all massacred with the exception of some people because the spirits weren’t favorable with their deaths. These included the King’s father in law and uncle, Nzirumbanje. Instead, the man was exiled but refused to LEAVE. He went all the way to the royal court to plead with his nephew, but the King was adamant, he had to leave pronto! Disgraced, he committed suicide‼️

Now, the grand finale, Prince Nkoronko, the ultimate plot master,‼️ He was too powerful to kill but the King schemed to get him out of the way. Hence, the King and his advisors concocted ways to kill him without spilling his blood in Rwanda. The first plan was to send him to war against Burundi but he was a seasoned warrior and had friends who leaked the plan to him, thus escaping the death trap! Guess who had leaked the plan? Chief Rwampembwe, the commander of Abashakamba (the whirlwind). Mad, the King ordered to capture the Chief’s mother. He sent an assassin to capture Chief Rwampembwe’s mother, instead, the man divulged the whole plan 🤦🏾‍♀️. Why his mother? Well, well, he wanted to torture her to “repay” the chief for the Queen Mother’s death. Sadistic much🥴??

Nonetheless, the assassin returned to the King with Chief Rwampembwe and told him that he couldn’t kill do it, oops! Without hesitation, the King Kigeli IV Rwabugili executed him. As for Chief Rwampembwe, he was tortured and granted a trial (crazy right?). But he refused (as he should) citing that the trial should have come before his humiliation. Therefore, the once powerful and beloved leader of the famous Abashakamba (the whirlwind) was sentenced to drowning in the Bayanga chasm (Bugesera district) with his son Nyombayire. Chief Rwampembwe’s mother, hearing the news of her son’s arrest, committed suicide😩😩. TRAGEDY ON TRAGEDY.

Are you still following? I have lost count of those perished in this vendetta‼️

However, one name still remains, Prince Nkoronko!! The only obstacle to the King was Prince Nkoronko’s army, the formidable Inzirabwoba (the fearless)!

He needed a plan to take them away from his uncle, hence isolating him for the final strike. As the odds were ever in his favor (aha, Hunger Games), a vassal King of Buhunde (North Kivu, DRC) looted Rwandan cows! King Kigeli IV Rwabugili organized a punitive expedition known as igitero cy’i Butembo (he ravaged Buhunde and pushed towards Butembo, a neighboring region, hence the name). During the expedition, he sent his agents to plant dissension seeds within the Inzirabwoba (the fearless) so that they can leave his biggest nemesis, his uncle, Prince Nkoronko.

He succeeded and Prince Nkoronko found himself isolated! Once the King had returned from the expedition, the disgraced and isolated, Prince Nkoronko went to see him. On his way, he met Chief Mbonyuwontuma, the commander of Imvejuru (those from the skies). In his messiness, Chief Mbonyuwontuma arrested him by putting a string on his wrist, then took him to the royal court. He was sentenced to death by strangulation and was taken to the Akanyaru river (near Burundi border) for his execution. Hence, Prince Nkoronko and his sons (the King’s cousins): Rukangankangwe, Mpigakamondo, Mesarubango and Ngangurarugo, Ntagwabira, Kibuje and Ntizimurinda were wiped out except one surviving son, his youngest, Ndangamyambi💔💔.

True to his messiness, Prince Nkoronko didn't go to Hades’ Kingdom without taking with him another person. Remember Chief Mbonyuwontuma who had arrested him and had the audacity to cuff him? Well, once in front of the King, his last words were, “even if I am condemned to death, Chief Mbonyuwontuma better accompany me to the netherworld for having the guts to cuff me! Or else, my blood will haunt the Kingdom😳!" THE GUTS.

Thus, Chief Mbonyuwontuma was executed to appease Prince Nkoronko’s spirit‼️

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, that was how one of the bloodiest vendettas in ancient Rwandan History came to an end‼️It is said that when King Kigeli IV Rwabugili avenged his mother, the entire Kingdom trembled, exile was mercy while death was common.

See you next Friday, my royal tea sippers, as yours truly takes a lil break🤗.

Stay tuned, because King Kigeli IV Rwabugili was never idle!!

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Friday 14/11: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 5)

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, today’s post? The tea of all teas, it’s a tale woven in divination, politics, jealousy and vendetta. If y’all thought Arya Stark’s revenge against the House of Frey was IT (hello, GOT fans, hehehe), y’all have to think twice BECAUSE our man Kigeli IV Rwabugili avenged his mother with so much violence that it shook the entire country’s nobility! So hang on tight (if you can, grab a drink, y’all gonna need it, lol) as we navigate the first part of this story😉😉.

Once our guy, Kigeli IV Rwabugili, had reached adolescence, it was customary to find him wives. According to the succession will left by his father, Mutara II Rwogera, the future queen mother (his grandson’s mother) was to come from the Abakono clan. As any serious issue in the country, the royal court held divination sessions to determine the lucky girl/woman. Get this, if the augurs had fallen on your daughter, whether single or married, the lady was automatically married to the Monarch🤭. Out of all eligible Abakono ladies, divination favored Nyiraburunga (remember this name), daughter of Nzirumbanje (she was the Queen Mother’s niece), the wife of Chief Gacinya (he was the king’s relative) and mother of 3 sons: Rutalindwa, Baryinyonza and Karara. To camouflage the plot, the royal court instructed Chief Gacinya to bring his wife to court so that she could meet the King. Indeed, she met the King (if ya know what I mean😏) and married him. After the wedding, he adopted her sons and brought them up as his own.

Now, an issue arose, how come an adolescent King is married to an “older” woman with 3 sons??? To anyone outside the King’s and Abiru’s circle, it absolutely didn’t make sense and could also bring up the fact that one of the Ibibanda clans was being privileged than the rest! Hence, they had to confuse everyone. Cue, the Abiru along with the King concocting another plan: to marry 2 more women, the sisters of Nyiraburunga, Nyiramarora, and Nyiramparaye, mother of Muhigirwa (a celebrated warrior). Muhigirwa became another adopted son of Kigeli IV Rwabugili along with his 3 cousins! Now, the entire nation was confused, I mean, the guy married 3 SISTERS.

They were literal sister wives 🥲🥲. Of course, the weddings didn't stop there, he kept adding many women to his harem.

I hope y’all got the context, because the new part is gonna be full of royal court politics. Welcome to the land of men jealousy!

As we had seen it before in part 2, tensions among chiefs were heating up like boiling water on a stove! And the trigger of what’s to come next? COWS‼️NGL, I was floored by the story🤦🏾‍♀️. Without further ado, let me serve the TEA:

There was a military expedition against Ndorwa which resulted in some cows being taken by accident by the Rwandan forces. The victims, Nobles from Ndorwa, came to Rwanda to plead their case and indeed they were heard, thus, their cows were returned to them. Nonetheless, there was another Noble from Ndorwa who in his quest to becoming chummy with the royal court brought 30 cows (Ishyo ry’inka) of the same color. According to the oral tradition, these cows were very beautiful! And of course, every chief wanted to get their hands of these pretty cows! Specifically, Prince Nkoronko wanted them as his property. Thinking that the Queen Mother will consider the fact that they were once married🥱, he asked for them! However, the Queen Mother shut him down by giving them to her favorite chief, Seruteganya‼️

And that, dear friends, is how the beef of all beefs started 👀. While the war of Troy in Ancient Greece started because of a woman (Helen of Sparta/Troy), in Rwanda, the roots of Rucunshu stem from being refused cows😅😅.

Already paranoid that he was in disgrace, Prince Nkoronko (the paternal uncle of king Kigeli IV Rwabugili) plotted the demise of his rival, Seruteganya. He began a nasty campaign against him rallying chiefs around the King🤦🏾‍♀️, specifically his former brothers in law (the Queen Mother’s brothers) who wanted to monopolize power over their sister, including Nzirumbanje, the maternal uncle and father in law of Kigeli IV Rwabugili. With Nzirumbanje in the plot, his daughters, the 3 royal sister wives, were also roped in the conspiracy. The mess became messier‼️

They started whispering accusations against Seruteganya but the King wouldn't budge. To push the King, our conspirators started running around saying that Seruteganya was out there claiming to be the Queen Mother’s lover 🫤. Hearing the rumor, the King got mad and would show aggression towards Seruteganya. The conspirators were happy; now they wanted to finish off their enemy!

The coup de grâce?? A pregnant Queen Mother and the culprit being Seruteganya. BOOM 💣 They had dug his grave because a pregnant Queen Mother was TABOO‼️

The King freaked out and isolated himself from his mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere. He summoned his 3 sister wives, the nieces of his Queen Mother and asked if truly their biological aunt and mother in law was pregnant! Being part of the conspiracy, they let the King believe that the rumor was true🤦🏾‍♀️. YHOOOO, messyyy!!

Instead of killing Seruteganya as the conspirators had hoped, the shocked and hurt King ran away from the royal court by crossing Nyabarongo river and ordered that no other boat should cross with the risk of execution. THE MAN WAS MAD.

Meanwhile, the Queen Mother oblivious of the conspiracy left court as well to follow her son but was refused passage. Confused, she looked for boats and ended up finding boat owners who didn't know about the King’s orders. Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere crossed the river and prepared herself to meet with her son and let him know the truth (she had gotten the Tea) while staying at Seruteganya’s residence in Mbirima (Gakenke district)‼️ Still sad, the King (poor baby) convoked his most trusted advisors to ask them what he should do about the situation. He asked, “wakora iki iyo inzoka yizingiye ku mukondo w’igisabo?” (what should be done when a snake has coiled around the neck of a churn?). Knowing what he was referring to, Chief Rwakagara suggested to make sure the snake is moved away without destroying the churn. Another chief, Remera, suggested a different idea, to kill the snake even if the churn was to become a collateral damage. Most of the chiefs shared the same sentiment as Chief Remera but the King opted for Chief Rwakagara’s idea and decided to save his mother but execute Seruteganya and his family🥴🥴.

This is where things get worse‼️ King Kigeli IV Rwabugili had instructed the chiefs to execute Seruteganya & Co, then bring him his mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere intact. The chiefs, Prince Nkoronko and his posse realized that if they kill Seruteganya and bring the Queen Mother, she will definitely avenge him. What did they do? They decided to attack his residence in Mbirima (Gakenke district) so that his death could be considered a battlefield death. DAMN, Plots over plots🤦🏾‍♀️. As they had planned, they attacked Seruteganya’s residence and a fierce battle ensued! Seruteganya seeing that the Queen Mother could perish, implored her to leave the residence as the assailants’ target was only on his back and not hers.

OHH, LOYALTY😭😭.

Indeed the Queen Mother and her entourage started moving towards the gates of the residence. In a fit of fury, one of the sons of Seruteganya struck the Queen Mother with a sword claiming, “it’s her son who’s killing us, why should she leave scot free? We should avenge our death‼️” Just like that, the Queen Mother perished with House of Seruteganya, which was burned down to ashes😭😭.

THE QUEEN MOTHER dead, what the King dreaded happened‼️The culprits were scared, WILL THEY SURVIVE THE KING’S WRATH? To stop the news from spreading, they drowned one of the Queen Mother’s loyal servant, a man, who had thought that the Chiefs would take him back🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. Thankfully, they didn't find the Queen Mother’s court lady, Rwingondo, who had escaped from their clutches.

In the meantime, the orphaned adolescent, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, confined himself for several days, refusing to eat or meet people. POOR BABY, he was mourning his beloved mother (he LOVED his mother dearly)‼️ Once his mother’s court lady, Rwingondo, reached his residence, she was immediately summoned. He asked her if his mother was pregnant? The court lady swore on her life and her entire lineage that the Queen Mother was not pregnant and offered to have her body examined by royal servants to prove it. The autopsy was conducted, the result? The Queen mother was not pregnant💣💥

To King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, his beloved mother was INNOCENT, it was the royal court’s intrigue that took her away from him. When I tell you that ancient Rwanda’s royal politics were wild, I’m not exaggerating‼️You can imagine what followed, A BLOODY REVENGE‼️

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, Stay tuned for next chapter of this messy saga!

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Friday 07/11: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 4)

My people! After wrapping up the revenge saga on behalf of King Mutara II Rwogera symbolized by the death of Chief Rugereka and his partisans, the Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere decided to launch a military expedition against Ndorwa to assert her power. However, mama was facing immense pressure, the country was in the grip of an epidemic (definitely not COVID, lol) and political dissension. The latter was mainly the product of Chief Rugereka’s case which had taken longer than expected. Longer to have allowed his supporters to drag the Queen Mother into the mud😩😩. The lady was called all sorts of names, a social climber, gold digger (in the 19th century language), a queen mother who got power without being a king’s consort, etc. Basically, the woman’s name was dragged into the sewer🤦🏾‍♀️.

Within this chaotic context, the royal court decided to launch an attack against Ndorwa when one of the Abashambo princes rebelled once again (such rebellions occurred since the kingdom’s conquest by Kigeli III Ndabarasa). With everyone side-eyeing everyone, the soldiers marched to Ndorwa but it didn’t stop gossip from flying left, right and center, which led to military chiefs almost turning to blows‼️ Imagine going to war and instead of forming a united front, y’all are busy beefing on the road😭.

The fiasco was insane that when on his last breath, a dying warrior asked his friends to let him know how the clown show ended up once in the afterlife. I MEAN…😬😬. EMBARRASSED by soldiers and military chiefs, the royal court decided to cancel the expedition #flop.

Not deterred by the failure of the first expedition, Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere decided to launch another against Ijwi island. She took command and marched to Lake Kivu along with her son, the young King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, and her brother, Nzirumbanje as the commander in chief of the expedition. The expedition was later called interchangeably the first expedition against Ijwi/the Expedition of Nyirakigeli. GIRL BOSS energy 💅🏾

Plot twist! The island of Ijwi dominated Lake Kivu with its powerful fleet that blocked the Rwandan attack. Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere, her son King Kigeli IV Rwabugili and their army spend months at the shore in an impasse‼️ It made sense as they had no fleet to rival Ijwi island. As the Heavens were on her side, a king on the western shores of Lake Kivu called Ntsibura came to the Rwandan camp to greet the new Rwandan king and ended up offering his fleet which was capable of defeating the Ijwi islanders‼️ His fleet attacked, scattered and defeated Ijwi islanders!!

VICTORY AT LAST! 🎉 🎉

While the expedition returned jubilant, drunk with victory, the royal court declared the victory incomplete as the defeated king had escaped and fled to an islet in Lake Kivu. Thus, they decided to kill Nsibura, the guy who had provided them the fleet to defeated their enemy😳😳. The reason for the betrayal? 1) Poor Nsibura was related to the defeated king of Ijwi island; 2) his most “condemning” crime was that he was a descendant of the invader king Nsibura Nyebunga of Bunyabungo who had imposed his rule on Rwanda after the death of King Ndahiro II Cyamatare😬😬.

Hence, Nsibura was executed. SPEECHLESS.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, in a fragile kingdom with shifting loyalties, the throne of the young King Kigeli IV Rwabugili danced on the edge of fate, not knowing if tomorrow was destined. Yet, he rose to become one of the celebrated warrior Kings of Rwanda⚔️⚔️.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, the long awaited scheming against Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere!

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Monday 03/11: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 3)

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, last time y’all got tea about the messy birth of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili. Buckle up for more tea about his ascension to power! Y’all thought it was simple?? The man and his mama had to fight tooth and nail to earn respect within the royal court. Hence today, dear readers, we’re diving head first into the bitter first years of kingship of one of Rwanda’s iconic warrior kings🔥

When his father, King Mutara II Rwogera bit the dust from tuberculosis, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili inherited the throne at an age between 7 and 12 years. At this time, he was probably busy running around and playing with his friends rather than stressing over the governance of the Kingdom😂😂. As per the Ubwiru (esoteric code), his regent became his mother, Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere.

Now, this is where things get messier. Every time a monarch dies, the royal court had to avenge him by executing one or multiple nobles 😬😬. To do that, divination was used to designate the “enemy” or let’s be real here, human pettiness… If one or many royal courtiers didn’t like you, just know that your neck was at stake. In the case of King Mutara II Rwogera, the designated victim was Chief Rugereka, the leader of the Imvejuru (those from heaven/sky) on behalf of his late brother Nyarwaya - Urutesi, until his nephew was of age to lead the army unit.

Listennn, Nyarwaya - Urutesi had made a lot of enemies among the aristocracy! During the reign of King Mutara II Rwogera, he used to snitch on EVERYONE to the then queen mother, Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi. Sis didn't play! Once reported, it was either death or exile😩😩. He was so into snitching that he even dared to snitch on the king himself!!! Well, that signed his death warrant because King Mutara II Rwogera, frustrated by his running mouth, snapped and struck him with a spear💀.

With the snitch gone, the target fell on his brother’s (Rugereka) back🤦🏾‍♀️. To stick it to him and “avenge” the dead King, the royal court accused Chief Rugereka of poisoning the king on behalf of his nephew under the guise of revenge.

My people, our guy Chief Rugereka wasn't a random dude. He was a military powerhouse, the commander of the powerful and devoted military unity, Imvejuru (those from heaven/sky)‼️Considering that the queen mother and her son were trying to consolidate their power, facing a seasoned warrior like him with a devout army unit was suicide!! The royal plan? they tested the waters by orchestrating a sham trial against Rugereka’s nephew, Rubabazangabo, but was surprisingly found innocent‼️ Witnessing this messy move, his uncle, Chief Rugereka realized that his days were numbered and took precautions.

Nonetheless, death had knocked at his door and was ready to take him and his loved ones. At the royal court, plots were plotting‼️ They decided to set a trap during the celebration of Umuganura (grand harvest festival). Why?? In ancient Rwanda, each army unit was associated with a cattle herd (the bovine army). This was done to ensure the prosperity of cattle in the land. During Umuganura, each army unit paraded with their cattle led by their chief wearing banana leaves (amakoma) to symbolize his role of cattle herder and protector. To the royal court, this was the perfect time to arrest Chief Rugereka but the guy was one step ahead, he sat it out along with his imvejuru! He sent his brother Muvunyi and some herders in his place 😂😂. The royal court was SHOOK, their plan failed miserably!

Furious at the scene, Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere summoned Muvunyi asking about the whereabouts of his brother, Chief Rugereka, when he lived right across the royal palace‼️ Muvunyi replied that the oracles forbade his presence during the ceremony. Feeling disrespected, the queen mother exiled the whole family to Tongo (today’s Masisi/ North Kivu province, DRC). Muvunyi clapped back, “Tongo isn’t fit for Nyiraburo’s sons.” He was basically telling her that as princes in their own right (Nyiraburo was the daughter of King Kigeli III Ndabarasa), exile didn't suit them. Then, he threw down his ceremonial banana leaves in front of the royal hut‼️

A DEFIANCE ACT!! That’s when the queen mother saw RED and declared the entire family enemy of the crown! The royal army, the Inzirabwoba (the fearless) led by Prince Nkoronko and the Abashakamba (the whirlwind) commanded by Chief Rwampembwe (son of Prince Nkusi) stormed Chief Rugereka’s camp and a brutal battle ensued⚔️. Though Chief Rugereka’s Imvejuru fought valiantly, they were crushed. Chief Rugereka’s residence was burned down to ashes, killing everyone inside😩😩. Right after his death, his responsibilities were handed to Rutezi (bookmark this name), the brother of Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, thus King Mutara II Rwogera was avenged and our little King Kigeli IV Rwabugili began his “rule” in the midst of drama, which would become a recurring theme of his reign. As for Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere, she made it very clear, MESS WITH ME or MY SON at your own peril‼️

Stay tuned to more royal tea about the early reign of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili!

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Friday 31/10: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 2)

Dearest readers, as Lady Whistledown would say (hey, Bridgerton fans), after the previous tales about the reign of King Mutara II Rwogera, it’s time to spill the biggest royal tea☕ yet: the deep rooted causes of the Rucunshu coup! Ya see, the coup was not an overnight moment, it was a final nail in the coffin hammered in by jealousy, heartbreak and power play miscalculation💔.

It all began, wait for it, with royal plans and sibling beef‼️ Prince Nkoronko and King Mutara II Rwogera were royal brothers from the same mother, the powerful Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi from the Abega clan. Prince Nkoronko was the younger brother of the monarch and their mother’s favorite! As grown men, they got married to multiple wives. As nobles and royalty with big property, they needed many wives not only for reproductive purposes but also for their property management!!

Here is where the plot thickens, whenever a Queen Mother rose to power, she wanted the monopolization of the institution! To do that, she tended to marry off daughters from her clan to her son, the Monarch. Hence, Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi, wanting the crown to remain within the Abega clan married off a lot of Abega girls to her son. Nonetheless, it was contrary to the esoteric code of the Abiru (the royal ritualists). Along with the King, they took the matter into their own hands. Cue, once the augurs agreed, they married off a beautiful woman called Murorunkwere, a daughter of the Abakono clan to the King’s younger brother, Prince Nkoronko‼️

Ya see where I’m going? Drum roll…. They sent Prince Nkoronko off to the northern border for MANY months to “handle” the northern neighbors, Abahima, who were raiding Rwandan cattle! Basically, they wanted him out of the way so that his brother, King Mutara II Rwogera, could “visit” his sister in law in peace😏😏.

Traditionally, all women “belonged” to the King, thus, Murorunkwere shared her bed with her brother in law, the King. WE READ AND WE DON’T JUDGE.

Months later, she found out that she was pregnant; she sent the message to the King. King Mutara II Rwogera, channeling his inner King David (though he didn't unalive his younger brother) summoned Prince Nkoronko from the battlefield😅😅. Arriving at his home, Prince Nkoronko found his wife pregnant, he was thrilled!! Little did he know that the baby bump was not his! His beloved consort gave birth to a son and gave him the name Sezisoni (dear readers, bookmark this name)‼️Sezisoni grew up in Prince Nkoronko’s household and everyone thought he was the father except Murorunkwere, King Mutara II Rwogera and the Abiru who knew the true lineage of Sezisoni. Once Sezisoni had grown into a young child, his biological father, King Mutara II Rwogera, decided to “adopt” him, in exchange, he offered to Prince Nkoronko his other son! YUP, royal baby swapping was a common thing👀.

Prince Nkoronko was livid! How could he take away his son and wife‼️ Then came the truth bomb, the King confessed that Sezisoni was actually his child, BOOM. Family feud ensued and the cold war was settled by the Queen Mother herself. She summoned Murorunkwere who confirmed what the King had said, Sezisoni was indeed the child of Mutara II Rwogera🙃🙃. Just like that, King Mutara II Rwogera gained a beautiful wife and child but most importantly, he circumvented his mother’s plan of future Abega Queen Mothers. What can I say, the man played chess while his mother played checkers!!

Here is a kicker, once King Mutara II Rwogera passed away, he was succeeded by his heir, Sezisoni also known as Kigeli IV Rwabugili (surprise, hehe,😁). Queen Mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere took on the same task as her mother in law, Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi, and married her son to many consorts from the Abakono clan with a dream that her clan will consolidate power for many generations. Among the women who married her son, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, there were 3 sisters👀: 1. Nyiraburunga along with her sons, Rutarindwa, Baryinyonza, Karara and Burabyo; 2. Nyiramarora (her children were not recorded) and 3; Nyiramparaye, the mother of the famous warrior, Muhigirwa. Their children were adopted by King Kigeli IV Rwabugili, while their fathers were given other wives, children and of course cows as compensation😅😅.

Remember Prince Nkoronko?? The man was still salty towards his late brother, King Mutara II Rwogera and the now Queen Mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere for what they did to him. Unbeknownst to Queen Mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere, she made him lose the little shred of sanity he was left with! You might ask, what in the world happened? Well, there was a Chief called Seruteganya, who was Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere’s favorite subject. On day, the Queen Mother gave prized cows to him that Prince Nkoronko REALLY wanted‼️ In his mind, he believed that for the sake of being ex-spouses, she would give him the cows, Nope!

Hurt, jealous and angry, he started a rumor claiming that THE Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere was preggers with Seruteganya’s child, which was TABOO. The rumor reached the King’s ears who was so hurt by the news. It is said that he loved his mother dearly that he refused to hear anything about the rumor. However, his uncle and his acolytes pestered him so much which led to the King sentencing Seruteganya and his family to death. In the midst of the chaos, Queen Mother, Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere went to see Seruteganya but his son who was mad at the situation struck her with a sword and died on the spot‼️TRAGEDY 101!!

No one knows if Prince Nkoronko wanted the deaths of both Seruteganya and Queen Mother Nyirakigeli Murorunkwere or if he wanted to kill either of them. The reality was both “his enemies” died and he reaped the sour seeds he sowed.

With his mother dead, King Kigeli IV Rwabugili launched an investigation about his mother’s pregnancy. Lo and behold, the palace’s servants did an autopsy and told him that his mother was innocent🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. King Kigeli IV Rwabugili COMPLETELY LOST IT and ordered an in-depth investigation! It was then found that it was a conspiracy made up by his messy uncle and former father, Prince Nkoronko, with the help of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili’s consorts from the Abakono clan😬😬. Talk about fumbling the bag real bad‼️

The King snapped. He ordered the mass executions of anyone and I MEAN anyone who was involved in the conspiracy. Thus, many from the Abakono clan were killed including his 3 wives (the sisters): Nyiraburunga, Nyiramarora and Nyirampiraye, without forgetting his uncle Prince Nkoronko. The bloodbath left his heir, Prince Rutarindwa (Nyiraburunga’s son), without a mother or clan protection. He became a lonely prince surrounded by rivals. Consequently, when King Kigeli IV Rwabugili eventually passed, Prince Rutarindwa inherited the throne with his father’s consort Kangojera who along with her brothers led the Rucunshu coup in favor of her son, the then toddler Musinga.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, here are the origins of the Rucunshu coup that shook Rwanda Kingdom to the core. It didn't start with the designation of Prince Rutalindwa as many might think but it was a result of a miscalculated payback born out of jealousy, maternal clan politics and a royal love affair that started it all.

Has your curiosity picked??Well, stay tuned to the next posts when we dive into the reign of King Kigeli IV Rwabugili

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Monday 27/10: Kigeli IV Rwabugili: Tales of a Warrior King (part 1)

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, last time on Rwanda Rewind, we saw the demise of the Gihunya principality in Gisaka kingdom!!! Now, the story shifts to other principalities, Mirenge and Migongo! Thus, grab a drink (whatever you can get your hands on) and buckle up for the last stand of Gisaka kingdom‼️

Now, picture this scenario: the Rwandan army had laid to waste the Gihunya principality and its leader, Prince Ntamwete saw his land blow into flames😩😩. You might wonder, what could he have done in that moment? I mean… the man has no land to rule and he’s left with few soldiers, so in the most rational way, he decided to flee towards the south and hide in Burundi. The man gathered what was left of his warriors, family, and cows and off he went‼️ However, halfway to the border, he stopped in his tracks! The man had a “WHAT IF”💭💭 moment! Why should he go to Burundi? What if he just surrendered to the Rwandan King, Mutara II Rwogera? Wouldn’t that keep him alive??

Decided, he sent a message to a Rwandan military commander, Chief Rutebuka of Abakemba (the slayers), who had assumed the leadership role after his father, Chief Rwihimba. Chief Rutebuka sent Prince Ntamwete’s message of surrender to the royal court. Hearing the news, the Queen Mother, Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi, was exalted! Finally, the battle was over and her son, the King, was gaining more acclaim! However, the Abiru (royal advisors and ritualists) were singing a different tune. Ya see, the oracles had said otherwise, they didn’t agree on the meeting between King Mutara II Rwogera and Prince Ntamwete. Instead, the augurs were favorable for his death‼️

To make the matter worse, Chief Rutebuka, the messenger, was chosen to complete the task😬😬. So, off he went to “escort” Prince Ntamwete and to complete the task. He sent a fake message telling his target that the royal court was happy about his surrender and that they should meet to iron out the details🥲🥲. In his belief of surrender, Prince Ntamwete went to the meeting point taking a small escort while the big bulk of the army was left behind. As soon as they exchanged greetings, BOOM💥💥, Prince Ntamwete was struck by a spear through the chest‼️

With Prince Ntamwete’s death, a signal was given to the Rwandan army to annihilate the rest of Prince Ntamwete’s army. Nevertheless, some of the Prince Ntamwete’s soldiers, a company named Abarasa fled and took refuge in Migongo principality under Prince Mushongore. Now, you might see where this is going…

The surviving chief of Abarasa called Kabaka realized that Prince Mushongore wouldn’t protect them forever. Thus, he decided to take the remainder of his company and join Rwanda. He sent men to the royal court to officially pledge allegiance to Mutara II Rwogera.

In a sign of recognition, King Mutara II Rwogera rolled out the red carpet 🎉🎉. He offered 50 cows to Chief Kabaka and 5 cows to each soldier of the Abarasa🐄🐄🐄. Furthermore, Chief Kabaka was made the deputy chief of the Gihunya.

Well, the man left Gihunya principality as a mere military chief and ended up its deputy commander. TALK ABOUT A PROMOTION😁😁.

As a bonus, King Mutara II Rwogera ordered all Rwandan men who had taken a married woman from Gisaka to return her to Chief Kabaka, who in turn will return her to her husband (if he’s still alive), except for young women who were already married to Rwandan men😬😬.

Meanwhile, the Mirenge principality didn’t dare to fight during this chaos! Their leader, Chief Rushenyi, decided to pledge allegiance to King Mutara II Rwogera once he saw Gihunya in ruins. Now, the remaining principality was Migongo under Prince Mushongore.

Seeing other principalities under Rwanda’s rule, Prince Mushongore realized it was time to save his skin and pledge allegiance to the King of Rwanda. He took a trip to Rwanda to see the King face to face‼️ He was accompanied by his brother and his son, Rwagaju. The latter resembled King Mutara II Rwogera. The king took a liking to him that he became very compromising towards Prince Mushongore.

To seal the deal, King Mutara II Rwogera offered the hand of his niece, the daughter of Prince Nkusi to the brother (Ruguga) of Prince Mushongore. In return, Prince Mushongore agreed to marry his daughter to King Mutara II Rwogera’s full brother, Prince Nkoronko (MARK THIS NAME, he planted the seeds of RUCUNSHU).

Y’all think that with all the above, peace had returned?? WRONG

As Gisaka was completely occupied by Rwanda, the remaining task was to find Gisaka’s sacred royal drum, Rukurura. However, Prince Mushongore kept dragging his feet. He told King Mutara II Rwogera that he wants to go back and bring Rukurura to him. Once arrived, Prince Mushongore claimed Gisaka independent‼️ King Mutara II Rwogera didn’t take it well (can you blame him??). He sent Prince Mushongore’s brother, Ruguga and his son, Rwagaju to talk sense to him before a full onslaught.

Spoiler alert: Prince Mushongore was defeated completely‼️ With that, Migongo fell and Gisaka was annexed to Rwanda.

HOLD ON SECOND‼️ Yep, Gisaka was militarily occupied but Rwanda couldn’t “officially” claim the territory without the sacred royal drum, Rukurura, the very symbol of Gisaka’s sovereignty🥲🥲! It remained hidden!!!

Nonetheless, Ladies and Sons of Ladies, though Rukurura escaped King Mutara II Rwogera, he remains in our history as the King who brought the once powerful Gisaka to its knees, with or without Rukurura.

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Friday 24/10: Mutara II Rwogera: Power, Heirs and the Seeds of Rucunshu (part 4)

What’s up my people?! Ready for another historical ride😁😁?

Without further ado, let’s continue our story of our boy King, Mutara II Rwogera!

Last time, we left off when the Rwandan army “under the leadership” of our boy King had defeated the southern neighbor Burundi. As he grew older, more battles were lining up, the second war on his royal to-do list? the long promised conquest of Gisaka kingdom.

QUICK RECAP: during the reign of Mutara II Rwogera’s father (Yuhi IV Gahindiro), the king of Gisaka, Kimenyi Getura, lost his heir Prince Zigama. Sadly, the next in line was poisoned, creating a succession crisis in the kingdom. Seeing the troubles, the remaining sons refused to become heirs! I MEAN… Furious, their father, Kimenyi Getura cursed them and refused to designate an heir😳😳. What ensued was the partition of Gisaka kingdom into 3 principalities all governed by the descendants of Kimenyi Getura. The principalities were: Gihunya, Migongo and Mirenge. Out of the 3, one of the princes was chosen as the guardian of Rukurura (the sacred royal drum/Ingoma Ngabe). Now, an usurper called Rugeyo from Burundi showed up in Gisaka claiming to be the first heir, Prince Zigama. He ruthlessly eliminated the opposition and took over the kingdom, while the legitimate princes governing the Gihunya, Migongo and Mirenge fled to Rwanda.

Refusing to live in exile, the 3 princes went back, which was an opportunity for the usurper to squash them‼️He killed one and left the other 2 in poverty😩😩. After the usurper’s death, one the legitimate princes called Ntamwete, took over one of the principalities (Gihunya). Meaning, during the Rwanda’s conquest of Gisaka, Prince Ntamwete was the leader of the Gihunya principality and guardian of Rukurura.

CAUGHT UP😅😅???

As chaos was already reigning in Gisaka, Prince Ntamwete took it upon himself to exacerbate the situation 😫😫. What had happened was Prince Ntamwete wanted to reign supreme over Gisaka, however other princes were like, nope, not today‼️So what did he do? He organized a “punitive” military expedition to capture Migongo from Prince Mushongore, however, he was defeated miserably! Like the French say, battu à plate couture! Just like that, their internal struggle gave Rwanda a perfect opportunity to swoop in and conquer🥲🥲. CAN YOU BLAME THEM???

Rwanda was prepared for the battle, especially that divination was on our side. Next stop? The choice of military units⚔️⚔️ to take part in the expedition:

• Abakwiyumwami (the worthy of the king), King Mutara II Rwogera’s personal guard, commanded by his brother, Prince Rwabika.

• Inzirabwoba (the fearless), commanded by King Mutara II Rwogera’s the younger brother, Prince Nkoronko. As, the prince was still a child, the interim leadership was given to Commander Muganza.

• Uruyange (the blossom), commanded by Yuhi IV Gahindiro’s favorite Chief Rugaju and later given to Chief Rwakagara, the brother of the Queen Mother, Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi

• Intaganzwa (the invincible), commanded by Chief Marara, son of the celebrated Prince Munana and grandson of the great martyr, Prince Gihana

• Abashakamba (the whirlwind), commanded by his brother, Prince Nkusi

• Imvejuru (those from heaven/sky), commanded by Chief Nyarwaya Urutesi

• Abakemba (the slayers), commanded by Chief Rwihimba, son and successor of Chief Kabaka who died during the Burundi expedition during Yuhi IV Gahindiro’s reign. This military unit was crucial to the conquest of Gisaka as they have been fighting against Gisaka since the reign of Cyilima II Rujugira

• Ababito (sharp tips of spears and/or arrows), commanded by Chief Nyankiko

The Commander of the army of the expedition was Chief Nyankiko, leader of the Ababito‼️

War and victory over Gisaka

After the galvanization of the formidable forces, the royal court green lit the war. Led by Chief Nyankiko of the Ababito, the strategy was to attack the principality of Gihunya, the stronghold of Prince Ntamwete. The idea was that attacking one principality at a time stopped the Gisaka princes from forming a united front against Rwanda‼️ Smart move, right? Basically, Rwanda told other princes, mind ya business or we will raid your territory as well😅😅.

To counter the Rwandan forces, Prince Ntamwete could only organize a few military units. I mean… he only had one small principality and other princes had refused to help him. On the Rwandan side, the Commander of the army, Chief Nyankiko, devised a strategy of creating an illusion that the army was going to Ndorwa. Believing in the tactics, the Gihunya soldiers, let their guard down. BIG MISTAKE‼️The Rwandan warriors swooped in at night, catching them by surprise, annihilating the principality!!

Gihunya was no more! Its inhabitants watched powerless as their land was being pillaged and burned to the ground😩😩. The battle was nicknamed Battle of karaminwe (joining hands in shock).

As for Prince Ntamwete, he retreated in defeat in a thick forest valley, which was like a fortress protecting him from invading forces. Among his belongings was his most prized cow, Ikotaniro (stake of battle). During one of his delulu moments, he proclaimed, “if King Mutara II Rwogera manages to snatch my Ikotaniro, I will admit that he’s more powerful than I am🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️.” Rwandan spies got wind of the messy statement and ran to report to the royal court‼️ In retaliation, Rwanda prepared an other military expedition to punish Prince Ntamwete. Indeed, the Rwandan army encircled Prince Ntamwete’s fortress and killed most of his remaining army. In total despair, his advisors recommended the release of the cow Ikotaniro as a way to stop the assault. As predicted, once the cow was seized by Chief Giharamagara, son of Chief Rwakagara, the battle stopped and Rwandan warriors retreated‼️

My people, the capture of Ikotaniro wasn't just a won bet! To Rwandans of the time, it had a deeper meaning, they saw it as a prophecy in the making, the total submission of Gisaka and its annexation to Rwanda.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, that’s how 1/3 of Gisaka was defeated. For the total submission of the kingdom, the other 2 principalities had to fall as well as capture their sacred royal drum, Rukurura.

Se you next time and stay tuned for the battle in Mirenge principality‼️

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Monday 20/10: Mutara II Rwogera: Power, Heirs and the Seeds of Rucunshu (part 3)

When Mutara II Rwogera ascended to the throne👑, he was just a young boy between 7 and 12 years old, an age that ancient Rwandans described as umusore ugihagatiye (a child who still wears his garment slung across his shoulder). In plain words, he was in his playful age that the throne meant nothing much to him😁😁. Therefore, his mother, the powerful matriarch Queen Mother Nyiramavugo Nyiramongi, stepped in as regent until his coming of age.

While our young king was busy being a child, tradition demanded that at the beginning of a new reign in Rwanda, our southern neighbor, Burundi, would stage a symbolic “welcome to the throne” raid (very weird, but okay😐). This raid entailed having a group of Burundi warriors “invading” Rwanda in a ritual that was agreed upon by both kingdoms. Except this time, King Ntare IV Rugamba of Burundi was not having it, the man decided to make it real😬😬.

As Rwanda was in preparation for the coronation (the transitional 4 months), King Ntare IV Rugamba of Burundi had his troops clear the papyrus swamps along the Akanyaru river, ready to invade under the full moon (inzora)🌕. It was meant to be a surprise attack but thanks to Rwanda’s spy🕵🏾‍♂️, Ruhiso, the plan got leaked. Plot twist: Ruhiso had been telling lies to the royal court that when he told them about the imminent attack, everyone laughed at him! The man broke into tears! Seeing that, the Queen Mother said to the chiefs, “this spy has been lying to us but he has never cried! We must take all necessary precautions” She dismissed them and they all returned to the southern border‼️

On the D-day, the Burundi’s army slipped into Rwandan territory at night, with the objective to march toward Mukingo (read Nyanza district), the then capital. King Ntare IV Rugamba wanted to burn the capital to ashes, thus plunging Rwanda into total humiliation😢😢. Thankfully, Rwandan soldiers learned the next morning that the Burundi army infiltrated their territory and pursued them‼️ Meanwhile, the royal guard unit had also marched to intercept Burundi’s vanguard near Gikoro (read Huye district)!

What ensued was total mayhem💥 Caught in the middle, the Burundi forces were wiped out to the very last man🫠🫠.

The war was not only brewing inside the territory but also at the border! As the Queen Mother had warned military chiefs to be on alert, they didn’t heed her advice🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️, except for Chief Nyarwaya Nyamutezi, the commander of Inyaruguru unit. He kept his unit on full alert with his spies working 24/7‼️When the Burundi troops tried to cross the border, alarms sounded and the swords clashed at the border, cutting the invading forces from ransacking the country⚔️⚔️.

The war gave a warning to Rwanda’s southern neighbor; Burundi skirmishes would no longer try to penetrate into the territory, instead, they would limit themselves to fight at the border💥💥.

Rwanda’s victory was heavily celebrated🎊🎊, poems were composed, warriors danced and the whole kingdom sighed of relief‼️Indeed, during Yuhi IV Gahindiro’s reign (the father of Mutara II Rwogera), Rwanda faced its worst defeat against Burundi during the ku Muharuro expedition. On the other side of the border, Burundians sang a different tune. The Kingdom was in deep mourning, many had lost sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, friends, etc. In one of the collected stories, the husband of the newlywed daughter of King Ntare IV Rugamba had taken part in the expedition and perished alongside his comrades. It is said that the princess was inconsolable💔💔.

As for Rwanda’s boy King, Mutara II Rwogera, the victory cemented his reign‼️ He was seen as the true heir aka the chosen one to lead the nation! For him, no pretender would be have been able to fight him for the throne after such spectacular triumph over a formidable foe such as Burundi.

Ladies and Sons of Ladies, let this tale remind us all, indeed u Rwanda ruratera ntiruterwa (Rwanda strikes but is never struck)💥💥. However, this level of awesomeness requires all hands on deck because Rwanda doesn't just have thousand troops but is 14 million strong💪🏾‼️

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Friday 17/10: Mutara II Rwogera: Power, Heirs and the Seeds of Rucunshu (part 2)