Gihanga by Rwanda MuseumsRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Gihanga is well known in Rwandan traditions as a superhero and the first king who established the Kingdom of Rwanda.
A skilled woodworker, blacksmith and tannery, Gihanga was an adventurer who was ready to conquer the royal powers in modern Rwanda and its periphery.
Who was Gihanga
Son of Kazi and Nyirarukangaga, Gihanga was born in Mazinga in a period of disaster, after the death of his father, his mother took him to her grandfather’s home where he grew up.
From an early age, Gihanga was a very smart and talented boy and his grandfather’s favorite.
Prophecy foretold Gihanga's rise to the throne, inheriting the legacy of his great grandfather. Consumed by envy, his maternal uncle schemed against him. Gihanga, along with his loyal cousins, fled Mubari, seeking refuge in Gasabo and later Bungwe.
Buhanga Eco Park by Rwanda MuseumsRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Buhanga, the first palace of Gihanga
Oral traditions whisper that this very spot, captured in the image, was once the home of Gihanga, the first ruler of Rwanda.
Smithy hammer (2)Original Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Emblems of Gihanga
At first, his kingdom's emblem featured two symbols: a hammer and the Nyamiringa, a musical instrument. Later, this was replaced by a single symbol, the Rwoga, a royal drum introduced to Gihanga by Rubunga, the keeper of sacred knowledge.
Royal drum (1)Original Source: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
While the royal drum became Rwanda's official emblem, the hammer and Nyamiringa (musical instrument) remained vital symbols. A drumbeat announced exile, while the haunting melody of the Urusengo (Nyamiringa) sealed the fate of condemned individuals.
Gihanga by Rwanda MuseumsRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy
Stretching beyond modern Rwanda's borders, Gihanga's empire encompassed parts of Uganda, Congo, and Burundi. He fathered children from various wives, each entrusted with different kingdoms. Notably, his son Kanyarwanda I Gahima, born to Nyamususa, inherited the Rwandan throne.
Content Developer: Chantal Umuhoza
Illustrator: Odile Uwera
Photography: Cedric Ishimwe
References: Inganji Karinga I, by Alexis Kagame
