Rwanda Nziza

"Rwanda Nziza" (Kinyarwanda: [ɾɡwɑː.ndɑ nzǐː.zɑ], "Beautiful Rwanda") has been the national anthem of Rwanda since January 1, 2002.[1] It replaced "Rwanda Rwacu", which had been the national anthem since 1962.[1]

Rwanda Nziza

English: Beautiful Rwanda
National anthem of  Rwanda
Lyrics	Faustin Murigo, 1990s
Music	Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana
Adopted	2002[1]
Preceded by	"Rwanda Rwacu"
Audio sample
"Rwanda Nziza" (instrumental) file help

Military parade by the Rwandan Defence Forces at Amahoro Stadium, performing "Rwandan Nziza"

Background

Rwanda's original national anthem, written when the country achieved independence from Belgium in 1962, was called Rwanda Rwacu (Our Rwanda). Independence was achieved at a time of high tension, following the Rwandan Revolution: centuries of rule by the minority Tutsi group had been overturned in just three years, the majority Hutu taking power in a violent upheaval, and forcing more than 100,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.[2][3] The subsequent thirty years, under the presidencies of Gregoire Kayibanda and Juvénal Habyarimana, were marked by continued cycles of violence,[4] culminating in the 1990s with the launch of the Rwandan Civil War by exiled Tutsi led by Paul Kagame,[5] the assassination of President Habyarimana, and the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which between 500,000 and 1,000,000[6] Tutsi and politically moderate Hutu were killed by Hutu extremists, on the orders of the interim government, in the space of just 100 days.[7]

The genocide was ended when Kagame's rebel army took control of the country in July 1994.[8] A period of reconciliation began, as a unity government took control of the country.[9] Kagame was the de facto leader from this point on,[10] and assumed the presidency in 2000.[11] As part of the reconciliation effort, and ostensibly to signal a break with the country's violent past, the government enacted an overhaul of the country's symbols, including the flag, the coat of arms and the national anthem.[12]

History

To commission the lyrics and music for the new state anthem, the government organized a national contest.[12] Rwanda Nziza represented the winning entry, with lyrics composed by Vedaste Munyaneza of Karubanda prison, and melody by Captain Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana of the Rwandan army brass band.[1] Rwanda Nziza became the official anthem of Rwanda on 1 January 2002.[1]

Lyrics

The lyrics are as follows:[13]

Kinyarwanda lyrics	Swahili lyrics	French lyrics	English translation
Rwanda nziza Gihugu cyacu Wuje imisozi, ibiyaga n'ibirunga Ngobyi iduhetse gahorane ishya. Reka tukurate tukuvuge ibigwi Wowe utubumbiye hamwe twese Abanyarwanda uko watubyaye Berwa, sugira, singizwa iteka. Horana Imana, murage mwiza Ibyo tugukesha ntibishyikirwa; Umuco dusangiye uraturanga Ururimi rwacu rukaduhuza Ubwenge, umutima,amaboko yacu Nibigukungahaze bikwiye Nuko utere imbere ubutitsa. Abakurambere b'intwari Bitanze batizigama Baraguhanga uvamo ubukombe Utsinda ubukoroni na mpatsibihugu Byayogoje Afurika yose None uraganje mu bwigenge Tubukomeyeho uko turi twese. Komeza imihigo Rwanda dukunda Duhagurukiye kukwitangira Ngo amahoro asabe mu bagutuye Wishyire wizane muri byose Urangwe n'ishyaka, utere imbere Uhamye umubano n'amahanga yose Maze ijabo ryawe riguhe ijambo.		Rwanda, notre beau et cher pays Paré de collines, de lacs et de volcans Mère-patrie, sois toujours comblée de bonheur Nous tous tes enfants: les Rwandais Chantons ton éclat et proclamons tes hauts faits Toi, Giron maternel de nous tous Sois à jamais admiré, prospère et couvert d’éloges. Précieux héritage, que Dieu te protège Tu nous as comblés de biens inestimables Notre culture commune nous identifie Notre unique langue nous unifie Que notre intelligence, notre conscience et nos forces Te comblent de richesses diversifiées Pour un développement sans cesse renouvelé. Nos valeureux aïeux Se sont donnés corps et âmes Jusqu’à faire de toi une grande Nation Tu as eu raison du joug colonialo-impérialiste Qui a dévasté l’Afrique tout entière Et te voici aise de ton indépendance souveraine Acquis que sans cesse nous défendrons. Maintiens ce cap, Rwanda bien-aimé Debout, nous nous engageons pour toi Afin que la paix règne dans tout le pays Que tu sois libre de toute entrave Que ta détermination engage le progrès Qu’excellent tes relations avec tous les pays Et qu’enfin ta fierté te vaille estime.	Rwanda, our beautiful and dear country Adorned of hills, lakes and volcanoes Motherland, would be always filled of happiness Us all your children: Rwandans[ Abanyarwanda]] Let us sing your glare and proclaim your high facts You, maternal bosom of us all Would be admired forever, prosperous and cover of praises. Invaluable heritage, that God protects to you You filled us priceless goods Our common culture identifies us Our single language unifies us That our intelligence, our conscience and our forces Fill you with varied riches For an unceasingly renewed development. Our valorous ancestors Gave themselves bodies and souls As far as making you a big nation You overcame the colonial-imperialistic yoke That has devastated Africa entirely And has your joy of your sovereign independence Acquired that constantly we will defend. Maintain this cape, beloved Rwanda, Standing, we commit for you So that peace reigns countrywide That you are free of all hindrance That your determination hires progress That you have excellent relations with all countries And that finally your pride is worth your esteem.

Notes and references

1. afrol News (2 January 2002). "Rwanda gets new flag, national anthem and coat of arms". Retrieved 11 March 2011.
2. Gourevitch 2000, pp. 58–59.
3. Prunier 1999, p. 51.
4. Prunier 1999, p. 56.
5. Prunier 1999, p. 93.
6. Henley, Jon (31 October 2007). "Scar tissue". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
7. Dallaire 2005, p. 386.
8. Dallaire 2005, p. 299.
9. Prunier 1999, p. 299.
10. Waugh 2004, pp. 120–121.
11. BBC News (22 April 2000). "Rwanda's Kagame sworn in". Retrieved 8 February 2013.
12. BBC News (31 December 2001). "Rwanda unveils new flag and anthem". Retrieved 19 October 2016.
13. Republic of Rwanda. "about Rwanda". National Symbols. Retrieved 11 March 2011.

Cited works

• Dallaire, Roméo (2005). Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda. London: Arrow. ISBN 978-0-09-947893-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Gourevitch, Philip (2000). We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families (Reprint ed.). London; New York, N.Y.: Picador. ISBN 978-0-330-37120-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Prunier, Gérard (1999). The Rwanda Crisis: History of a Genocide (2nd ed.). Kampala: Fountain Publishers Limited. ISBN 978-9970-02-089-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Waugh, Colin (2004). Paul Kagame And Rwanda: Power, Genocide and the Rwandan Patriotic Front. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1941-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links

• Rwanda: Rwanda Nziza - Audio of the national anthem of Rwanda, with information and lyrics
• US Navy Band MP3 File