How Nyirarumaga's Poetry Kept Rwanda's Past Alive

Learn about the woman behind poetry in Rwanda.

Digital illustration of Nyirarumaga by Odile Uwera NyirandegeyaRwanda Cultural Heritage Academy

Who was Nyirarumaga

Born into the Abasinga clan, Nyirarumaga arrived at the court as a young poetess. Rising through the ranks, she eventually became the adoptive mother of King Ruganzu II Ndoli, earning the esteemed title of queen mother.

Why Nyirarumaga was chosen as queen mother.

The queen mother held immense power, overseeing the royal household and wielding significant influence in court politics. For King Ruganzu II Ndoli, whose kingdom had been recently defeated, having a mother from Abasinga was seen as a potential source of good fortune for Rwanda.

How Nyirarumaga was chosen as queen mother

For nearly eleven years, Bunyabungo (present-day Uganda) had occupied Rwanda, forcing the rightful heir to flee to Karagwe (present-day Tanzania). Among those yearning for his return was Nyirarumaga, whose unwavering faith and dedication made her a natural choice as queen mother.

Nyirarumaga, the founder of historiographic poetic form

As adoptive Queen Mother to King Ruganzu II Ndoli (1510-1543), Nyirarumaga played a crucial role in establishing poetry as a way to record and preserve the history of Rwandan kings. Her inaugural poem marked the day she assumed this monumental responsibility.

Dynastic poetry Impakanizi- an instrument recalling all past

Nyirarumaga's debut poem sparked a revolution. It laid out a new way to preserve Rwandan history: each king's story, verse by verse, punctuated by a chorus. To solidify this, she established the first chair of poets position, granting it prestige and power.

Nyirarumaga established hereditary poet lineages, safeguarding Rwanda's oral history for centuries until writing emerged during colonial times.

Credits: Story

Content development: Chantal Umuhoza
Illustration: Odile Uwera
Curatorial layout: Chantal Umuhoza

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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