Rwanda

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region –East-central Africa
• Currency symbol of Rwanda – Rwandan franc
• Capital City – Kigali
• Official languages –Kinyarwanda (national Language), French, English
• Population –12,952,218 (2020)
• Country dialling code  –  (+250 )
• Official website – Rwanda
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Tourism, Agriculture, Fishing
• Google Maps link – Rwanda
• Where is it? –Rwanda is located in Central/Eastern Africa, and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, and Burundi to the south. It lies a few degrees south of the equator and is landlocked.

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Rwanda In Pictures

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Rwanda History

• How did the country get its first name? Named by their founding king Gihanga, founder of the Nyiginya dynasty. It is derived from Kinyarwanda verb Kwanda meaning “the expansion”. 

• When and by whom the country was first discovered? Late 1800s – Tutsi King Kigeri Rwabugiri establishes a unified state with a centralised military structure. 1858 – British explorer Hanning Speke is the first European to visit the area. 1890 – Rwanda becomes part of German East Africa.

• Who were the first Inhabitants? The first inhabitants of the area that is now Rwanda settled there at least 10 000 years ago, during the Neolithic period. They were hunter-gatherers and lived in the forests, being later identified as the Twa people. They were engaged in hunting and gathering of food and the crafting of pottery. By 600CE the people living in the area knew how to work iron, had a small amount of cattle and planted small amounts of sorghum and finger millet.

• When it was first recognized as a country? Logiest and Hutu leader Grégoire Kayibanda declared Rwanda an autonomous republic in 1961, and the country became independent in 1962. 

• Who was the first leader of the country? Grégoire Kayibanda (May 1, 1924 – December 15, 1976) was the first elected President of Rwanda. As pioneer of the Rwandese revolution, he led Rwanda’s struggle for independence from Belgium, and replaced the Tutsi monarchy with a republican form of government. He asserted Hutu majority power.

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Five Significant Events 

1. 1800s Establishment of a unified state: Tutsi King Kigeri Rwabugiri establishes a unified state with a centralised military structure. (https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/rwanda/history/)
2. 1890 Rwanda part of German Africa: Rwanda becomes part of German East Africa. (https://www.globalblackhistory.com/2016/09/ethnic-hierarchy-ruanda-urundi-1890.html)
3. 1946 Rwanda a UN trust Territory: Ruanda-Urundi becomes UN trust territory governed by Belgium. (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-were-the-trust-territories-of-the-united-nations.html)
4. 1962 Rwanda an Independent state: Rwanda becomes independent with a Hutu, Gregoire Kayibanda, as president; many Tutsis leave the country. (https://face2faceafrica.com/article/gregoire-kayibanda-the-hutu-journalist-who-led-rwandas-struggle-for-independence-in-1962)
5. 1988 Hutu Refugees flee to Rwanda due to Violence: Some 50,000 Hutu refugees flee to Rwanda from Burundi following ethnic violence there. (https://www.sutori.com/story/rwandan-genocide–eMzgS6qCYyLnsvVKGpGSYNxE)

Five Places to Visit in Rwanda

1. Kigali: There are a couple of things you simply need to see: the moving Genocide Memorial and the grand presidential palace. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-rwanda/)
2. Huye: Huye is the home of the National University and the National Institute of Scientific Research, along with countless other revered learning centres. That makes it something like Rwanda’s answer to English Oxford, or Massachusetts’ Cambridge. It also makes it a place rich with cultural attractions. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-rwanda/2/)
3. Volcanus National Park: This truly breathtaking conservation area – contiguous with Virunga across the border – is topped by the once-smoking calderas of mighty mounts like Karisimbi and serrated Sabyinyo. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-rwanda/3/)
4. Kibuye: Kibuye juts its way into the blue-brown waters of Lake Kivu in a series of curved headlands and steep-sided bays.(https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-rwanda/4/)
5. Akagera National Park: Akagera National Park is the same savannah and riparian swamp mosaic you’d expect to find in the super-famous game parks of the East African Rift. (https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-places-visit-rwanda/5/)

References: 

• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-rwanda.html
• https://www.quora.com/How-did-your-country-get-its-name-and-Who-named-your-country
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14093322
• https://www.explorerwandatours.com/travel-blog/history-of-rwanda.html 
• https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/rwanda
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grégoire_Kayibanda
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14093322