IGITARAMO by Dady de Maximo Mwicira-Mitali, Aired at CFM Rwanda on 01/06/2006 , Topic of today : IBISOBANURO KU INSIGAMIGANI:
- YIGIZE INSHINZI, - YIGIZE ICYANGAMIBYIZI.
Rwanda History and Culture show on
I. Royal Literature
Ubucurabwenge - a royal genealogical list
Ibitekerezo - a collection of royal myths
Ibisigo - a collection of royal poetry
Ubwiru - a set of royal rituals
2.The Genealogical Lists Ubucurabwenge
The term "Ubucurabwenge" may be translated as the forging of intelligence, or mind
3.The list was recited in ascending order, beginning with the reigning King and Queen Mother, and ending with Muntu (Man, Mankind), the first King of Men, whose father was Kigwa, son of Shyerezo Nkuba, the King of Heaven. The forty-three reigns are grouped in three dynasties:
Ibimanuka: the "Descents", or the Divine Kings
Abami b'Umushumi: the Kings of the Cord
Abami b'Ibitekerezo: the Kings of Mind
The Ubucurabwenge lists were recorded and published by Rwandan scholar Alexis Kagame in his book Inganji Kalinga (Kabgayi, 2nd ed. 1959, Book II, pp. 98-101).
4.The Royal Myths Ibitekerezo
The term "Ibitekerezo" means both "thoughts" and "narratives. Rwandan mythology is patterned on the genealogical lists, and just like the poetry Ibisigo, follows the chronological order given in the royal lists. This appears clearly in A. Kagame's Inganji Kalinga cited above, and also in A. Coupez & Th. Kamanzi, Récits historiques rwanda (1964).
5.The Royal Poetry Ibisigo
6.The Royal Rituals Ubwiru
The etymology of the term "Ubwiru" is not obvious. According to Alexis Kagame, Ubwiru means "inviolable secret", but this is only a reference to the fact that the priests Abiru were held to the strictest secrecy about the texts of royal rituals. The texts of the Ubwiru rituals, called "Inzira" (Ways, or Paths), were dictated to Alexis Kagame in 1945, and later edited and translated into French by M. d'Hertefelt and André Coupez, and published in a bilingual edition (MRAC, Tervuren, 1972)
7.II. Other Types of Literature
Rwanda has an equally impressive array of the more popular type of oral literature.
the popular literary genres:
Amateka y'Imiryango: histories of the major families of Rwanda
Ibyivugo: Self-praises and heroic poetry
Indirimbo z'Ingabo: heroic hymns and army music
Amazina y'inka ("Cow Names"): pastoral poetry
Imyasiro: hunting poetry
Imigani: proverbs and sayings
Ibisakuzo: riddles and enigmas
Inanga: songs by inanga musicians (Inanga is a traditional string instrument),imihango n'imiziririzo
Songs: lullabies, love and praise songs, group work songs, etc.
