The Rwandan Mythology 2

Many seemingly mystical characters can be found in Rwandan folklore, including "Ryangombe," who was revered by the ancients as a "god" and who was called upon to save and rule during times of war and danger.

History informs us that Ryangombe was a real person and that he was a man of great strength and might. According to Antoine Nyagahene, a history professor at the University of Gitwe, "He had achieved great exploits in his time, and his name was sung all over the kingdom, so when he passed away, his reputation grew to become a mystic tale."

He arrived from the Kingdom of Gitara, which is in the present-day east of Africa, with his army, "Abacwezi," and it was at that point that he met Ruganzu II Ndoli, one of the well-known kings of his time, according to Nyagahene.

He says Ruganzu was a brave and honorable man who, as a king, overthrew many kingdoms alongside "Ruganzu II Ndoli," one of Rwanda's most well-known historical figures whose legacy began in exile after he was found guilty of his father's murder. Years later, after uniting Rwanda, he came back to rule it as a powerful kingdom.

"He was a great king, so after his passing, tales of his exploits were told and passed down from generation to generation," says Nyagahene. "The belief that he left footprints on stones and caused earthquakes when in battle, led to Ruganzu becoming a mystical character to many when he was a historical figure who lived.

The persona "Nyirarunyonga" was another fascinating one. She was infamous for leading an impolite lifestyle, pursuing men allegedly for their physical pleasure, and was regarded as being egotistical and insulting. According to legends, she was a fierce fighter who could handle any conflict. She is also said to have insulted the King once and been put to death as a result, according to Charles Rutayisire.

She is portrayed as a haughty woman who allegedly once got into a fight with a man over his cattle munching grass on her property.

Rutayisire emphasizes the value of teaching and sharing these tales with children, and he does the same with his own. "Ngarama and Saruhara of Nkomoko, who defeated a giant bird that was terrorizing the kingdom on their own, is one of my favorite stories," adds Rutayisire.

Then there is Ndagaba, who is regarded as one of Rwanda's first female heroes.

"Ndabaga found courage in trying situations. During that time, some men—particularly chiefs or sub-chiefs—would travel to the King's Palace and set up camp there for weeks or even years at a time. Some of them served in the King's army and occasionally engaged in combat, the speaker said.

As he had spent years in the king's palace and lacked a son to "redeem" him, Ndabaga grew up without knowing her father.

In reference to the group of men who were specially trained to "serve the nation" and spent considerable time away from their families, Muvunanyambo said, "She felt she could do something even when no girl or woman was supposed to replace their father in 'Itorero'."

Ndabaga trained herself to perform tasks that were reserved for boys during her formative years in order to get around the established practice, eventually becoming so skilled that she would outperform boys in tasks that were meant for men.
Ndabaga went to the palace when she felt ready to succeed her father. After finding him and telling him of her mission, she persuaded him to leave her behind and go home to rest since she knew he was getting ill.
Ndabaga is still an inspiration to many in contemporary Rwanda.
"You do not have to go above and beyond to follow in Ndabaga's footsteps. She was a typical teen, and what she did was typical of what boys and men did at the time. By striving for excellence in everything you do, no matter how routine it may seem, you can become a Ndabaga, according to Muvunanyambo.
The wonderful thing about stories is that they are passed down from one generation to the next and never grow stale.