Chronicles of Rwanda - a royal timeline

Friday historical tidbits

Intore dancers at the royal court. Source: footage from KING SOLOMON'S MINES USA 1950 C. Bennett, A. Marton.

From Gihanga Ngomijana, who kickstarted it all, to Kigeli V Ndahindurwa Jean Baptiste, this royal chronological list contains the names of Kings, both famous and unknown, who stood firm for our nation, some even giving their lives to protect her sovereignty.

So take a moment, grab a seat and scroll through the list because these names aren’t random names, they are echoes of existence, resilience, real sacrifice and the story of the undauntable soul of the Land of Thousand Hills.

Disclaimer: The years of reign of the first 28 kings were left out deliberately as historical sources don’t agree on the same timeline but the line up is correct according to the passed down Oral Tradition.

From Mibambwe III Rutarindwa to Kigeli V Ndahindurwa Jean Baptiste, the timeline is accurate thanks to colonial archives (can’t always be bad, right?)

1. Gihanga I Ngomijana
   The OG founder of Rwanda Kingdom

2. Kanyarwanda Gahima I
   Son of Gihanga and the first Umwami w’umushumi (“belt king”)

3. Yuhi I Musindi
   Ancestor of the Abasindi lineage under Abanyiginya Clan

4. Rumeza
   One of the lesser known monarchs

5. Nyarume
   Another forgotten monarch

6. Ruhuge

   Same WhatsApp Group - forgotten king

7. Rubanda

   Ditto, but exists in Oral Tradition

8. Ndahiro I Ruyange
   Known as the father of King Ndoba in the existing Oral Tradition and written history

9. Ndoba
   The patriarch of many Abanyiginya clan lineages (Abagunga, Abaturagara Abakobwa Abeneneza, Abenecyambwe, Abenebiharage, Abenemupfumfu) and most likely the ancestor of Burundi King Ntare Rushatsi and his descendants (surprised??!)

10. Samembe

    Another lowkey king, lol

11. Nsoro I Samukondo
    Father of King Ruganzu I Bwimba and Princess Robwa Nyiramateke

12. Ruganzu I Bwimba
    The only martyr king (Umutabazi w’umucengeri)

13. Cyilima I Rugwe
    The originator of the name Kigali!

14. Kigeli I Mukobanya
    He fought against the first invasion of Bunyoro Kingdom (modern Uganda)

15. Mibambwe I Sekarongoro I Mutabazi I
    One of the best battle strategists in history (the story will be fire, literally!)

16. Yuhi II Gahima II

    the founder of the celebrated Nyaruguru army unit!

17. Ndahiro II Cyamatare
    The tragic king 😭

18. Ruganzu II Ndoli
    The liberator of Rwanda

19. Mutara I Nsoro II Semugeshi
    Warrior and ritualist king

20. Kigeli II Nyamuheshera
    Known for his expansionist wars and military might

21. Mibambwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura
    The celebrated philanthropist king - Rugabishabirenge

22. Yuhi III Mazimpaka
    A poet, diviner and a king of plot twists 😄

Karemera Rwaka (Regent) – not counted officially
Stepped in for his half brother, Cyilima II Rujugira, during his exile. Also, the ancestor of Abaka lineage under Abanyiginya clan

23. Cyilima II Rujugira
    A warrior king who defeated 4 nations at once!

24. Kigeli III Ndabarasa

    A mighty warrior in his own right!

25. Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo
    Died young without an official consort (good tea here😄)

26. Yuhi IV Gahindiro
    Marked the golden age of the Rwanda Kingdom - the monarch with the longest reign

27. Mutara II Rwogera
    The conqueror of Gisaka Kingdom

28. Kigeli IV Rwabugiri
    Legendary warrior and the first king to own guns.

29. Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa (1895-6)
    Shortest reign - dethroned by coup (ever heard of Rucunshu?)

30. Yuhi V Musinga (1896–1931)
    Bold and brave king who faced colonizers head on. He is famous for refusing baptism

31. Mutara III Rudahigwa Charles Léon Pierre (1931–1959)
    Christian king, visionary — tried to bridge tradition and western civilization

32. Kigeli V Ndahindurwa Jean Baptiste (1959–1960)

    king in exile, another short reign

📜 NEXT:

• Monday 21/04 - The EPIC SAGA begins with King Ruganzu I Bwimba, don’t miss out!