CHAPTER TWO: ORGANISATION OF RWANDAN KINGDOM.

The Rwandan kingdom was organized in three ways ;

_Political organization

_Economic organization

_Social-cultural organization

Lets start on how it was organized Politically;

Rwanda had a centralized system of administration. The king was at the top of administration hierarchy. He was commonly referred to as Imana(GOD), and at times as Nyagasani. He was also called "UMWAMI". He got the titles from his subjects.

Under him, there was tradition leaders known as Abatware(chiefs) and umutware for singular.

EXAMPLES OF CHIEFS INCLUDED;

_Army chief

_Land chief

_Cattle chief

ROLES OF CHIEFS IN THE KINGDOM.

_Advising the king an important issue.

_Helping in maintaining Law and order.

_Collecting taxes and tributes.

_Solving land and cattle disputes among the people.

The king usually came from Abanyiginya clan. According to traditions, Abanyiginya clan came from "SABIZEZE". Sabizeze fell from the sky to the world in mubari kingdom of the Abazigaba clan.

The system of succession to the throne was heredity when a king died, which was popularly known as "GUTANGA". This was done by Abiru rituals who usually named the next successor.

THE SECOND WAY RWANDA WAS ORGANIZED IS ECONOMICALLY.

The kingdom defended on agricultural. Banyarwanda kept cattle, goats, sheep and e.t.c. They also grew food crops including Bananas, sweet potatoes, sorghum and beans.

This was for food production and trade.

Banyarwanda also practiced pottery e.g; pots were made from clay soil. The pots were used for cooking, fetching and preserving water. It was also traded.

They also practiced weaving, carpentry and art and craft. These products were also exchanged for other goods that they could not produce. This improved the standards of living.

some farmers kept bees for production of honey, Honey was an important component in traditional beer called"INTURIRE"

As an Economic activity hunting was done to provide Rwandans with meat and skins. They hunted wild animals such as porcupines, leopards, antelopes and hare.

THE THIRD RWANDAN KINGDOM WAS ORGANIZED WAS SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.

Banyarwanda were very God fearing people who believed in the existence of the creator (GOD). They accorded him as IMANA and NYAGASANI. They also offered gifts inform of animals, meat, milk, and agricultural product. Besides they also believed in Ndyangombe(hero, culture)

Abazimu(Ancestral spirits) they also offered gifts to them appeasing and ask for forgiveness in case of something went wrong.

through out the entire kingdom, people from all walks of life spoke the same language called Kinyarwanda. This acted as a uniting factor.

Blood pact rituals (kunywana) was another aspect of their social relations. This was the drinking of blood from a cut made on each other.

TRADITION CLOTHING.

Clothes in traditional Rwanda were made from different products e.g: from calf skins, Bark of trees, leopards skins e.t.c.

Boys clothes were called "URUYONGA" while those for men were called "IMPUZU". Girls dressed in "ISHABURE and INDENGERA while women put on INKANDA".

The banyarwanda constructed and lived in huts thatched with grass-They also decorated those huts with mats on the floor - This made them attractive to live in.