Rwanda Nziza | National Anthem of Unity & Resilience

Rwanda Nziza is Rwanda’s national anthem. It praises the country and has only four verses. It has been sung since January 1st, 2002, replacing the old anthem Rwanda Rwacu, which was used until the 1994 genocide. That genocide was a terrible conflict between the Tutsi and the Hutu.

The original anthem was written after Rwanda gained independence from Belgium in 1962. This came after tension grew when the Hutu overthrew the Tutsi-led rule. Many Tutsi people were forced to flee and became refugees in nearby countries.

In 1994, violence broke out for 100 days. Many Tutsi were killed after being blamed for the death of the Hutu president. They were wrongly called “cockroaches.” The war ended when Paul Kagame’s rebel army took control of the country in July 1994. Kagame later became president.

To help the country heal from this painful past, the government decided to change Rwanda’s national symbols, including the flag, coat of arms, and national anthem. This helped many people feel peace in their hearts again.

They began to see one another as brothers and sisters. To keep the country peaceful, the government also passed strong laws that punish anyone who tries to bring back genocide-related ideas.

Every year, Rwandans have a day when they visit genocide memorial sites to remember their loved ones who were killed and buried there.

The anthem promotes unity and good values. To involve everyone in choosing the new anthem, the government held a national competition. Rwanda Nziza was chosen as the best. The lyrics were written by Captain Jean-Bosco Hashakaimana from the Rwandan Army Brass Band. It officially became the national anthem of Rwanda.

Here are the lyrics of Rwanda Nziza in Kinyarwanda:

First stanza:

Rwanda nziza Gihugu cyacu
Wuje imisozi, ibyaga n’ibirunga
Ngobyi iduheshe gahorane ishya
Reka tukurate tukuvuge ibigwi
Wowe utubumbiye hamwe twese
Berwa, sugira, singizwa iteka

Second stanza:

Horana Imana, murage mwiza
Ibyo tugukesha ntibishyikirwa
Umuco dusangiye uraturanga
Ururimi rwacu rukaduhuza
Ubwenge umutima amaboko yacu
Nibigukungahaze bikwiye
Nuko utere imbere ubutitsa

Third stanza:

Abakurambere b’intwari
Bitanze batizigama
Baraguhanga uvamo ubukombe
Utsinda ubukoroni na mpatsibihugu
Byayogoje Afurika yose
None uraganje mu bwigenge
Tubukomeyeho uko turi twese

Fourth stanza:

Komeza imihigo Rwanda dukunda
Duhagurukiye kukwitangira
Ngo amahoro asabe mu bagutuye
Wishyire wizane muri byose
Urangwe n’ishyaka utere imbere
Uhamye umubano n’amahanga yose
Maze ijabo ryawe riguhe

Rwanda Nziza has a joyful melody that people enjoy listening to again and again.

Read our article to learn all about the Kwita Izina Ceremony.