List of kings of Rwanda

This page contains a list of kings (mwami, plural abami) of Rwanda. The Kingdom of Rwanda was one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of Central and East Africa.

Mwami of Rwanda
Royal Coat of arms
Last to reign
Kigeli V Ndahindurwa
28 July 1959 – 28 January 1961
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchGihanga
Last monarchKigeli V Ndahindurwa
FormationUnknown (ancient times)
Abolition28 January 1961
ResidenceNyanza, Rwanda
AppointerRoyal Council of Abiru
Pretender(s)Prince Emmanuel Bushayija

Its state and affairs before King Gihanga is largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.

Kings of Rwanda
Abami b'imishumi (descendants of Ibimanuka gods) – B.C.E
  • Gihanga
  • Kanyarwanda I Gahima I
  • Rumeza I
  • Yuhi I Musindi
  • Rumeza II[1]
  • Nyarume[1]
  • Rubanda (Lugalbanda)[1]
  • Ndahiro I Bamara (Wamala)
  • Ndahiro II Ruyange
  • Ndahiro III Ndoba
  • Ndahiro IV Samembe
  • Nsoro I Samukondo
  • Nsoro II Byinshi
  • Ruganzu I Bwimba
  • Cyilima I Rugwe
1st Abami Bibitekerezo (1st Common Era Kings)
2nd Abami Bibitekerezo (2nd Common Era Kings)

Pretenders since 1961
Prince Emmanuel Bushayija (Yuhi VI).

On 28 January 1961, during the Rwandan Revolution, the country abolished its monarchy and became a republic[6] (retroactively approved by a referendum held on 25 September of the same year).[7] Afterwards, Kigeli V Ndahindurwa continued to maintain his claim to the throne until his death on 16 October 2016 in Washington, D.C.[8] On 9 January 2017, the Royal Council of Abiru announced Prince Emmanuel Bushayija as the new heir to the throne. Prince Emmanuel adopted the regnal name Yuhi VI.[9]

See also

References
  1. Leon Delmas
  2. Frank K. Rusagara (2009). Resilience of a Nation: A History of the Military in Rwanda. Fountain Publishers. p. 99. ISBN 9789970190010.
  3. Tharcisse Gatwa (2005). The Churches and Ethnic Ideology in the Rwandan Crises, 1900-1994. Regnum Books International. p. 55. ISBN 9781870345248.
  4. "A King With No Country". Washingtonian. 27 March 2013.
  5. Aimable Twagilimana (2007). Historical Dictionary of Rwanda. Scarecrow Press. p. xxix.
  6. Leonhard Praeg (2007). The Geometry of Violence. AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. p. 39. ISBN 9781920109752.
  7. "Kigeli V: Rwandan king with no throne".
  8. "Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, Rwandan king without a crown, dies at 80". The Washington Post. 18 October 2016.
  9. Adrian Blomfield (12 January 2017). "Rwanda's new king is former Pepsi salesman residing in Cheshire". the Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
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