Nyabyinshi, also known by various names including Nyabingi or Nyabinghi, was a daughter of King Ruganzu II Ndoli of Rwanda, born to him by a servant while he was in Karagwe, Tanzania.
Though she died a virgin, her legacy has transcended borders, as she lived in Tanzania, grew up in Uganda, and died in Rwanda.
Throughout African history, virgin women have often played crucial roles in their societies, leading revolutions and shaping destinies. From Nubia to Kush, Axum to Sheba, we recall kingdoms once ruled by powerful virgin queens like the renowned Queen of Sheba.
Nyabyinshi, too, has a lasting legacy that echoes through the ages, revered by African warriors in their battles against colonial oppression.
However, the true history of Nyabyinshi has been distorted over time, largely due to colonial narratives that painted her in a negative light. Today, when her name is mentioned, some associate her with darkness and evil, which is far from the truth.
In reality, Nyabyinshi was a warrior who fought many battles to secure the return of her father from Karagwe and liberate northern Rwanda from the rule of Nsibura Nyebuga.
Her struggle became a rallying cry for other African warriors, including Ethiopian fighters who resisted British colonisation and Queen Matamba of Angola, who died in 1663 while fighting the Portuguese.
From the late 18th century, Nyabyinshi’s name and spirit became intertwined with the beliefs and religious practices of many African communities.
In southwestern Uganda, the Nyakishenyi caves stand as sacred spiritual sites where Nyabyinshi is believed to have rested on her journey to Rwanda.
In 1917, these caves were the centre of a rebellion against British colonial rule, with Nyabyinshi’s followers burning down government buildings. Even today, her legacy lives on, inspiring reggae musicians in Jamaica through the Rastafarian movement’s reverence for Nyabinghi, derived from her name.
The Birth of Nyabyinshi
Nyabyinshi’s father, Ruganzu II Ndoli, was the son of King Ndahiro II Cyamatare, who had two brothers, Byinshi and Bamara. With Byinshi coveting the throne, Ndahiro sent his young son, Ndoli, to live with Karemera, the husband of Nyabunyana, Ndoli’s aunt, in Karagwe.
While in Karagwe, Ndoli had a secret affair with Nyabunyana’s servant, who eventually became pregnant. In Rwandan tradition, it was forbidden for a future king to have sexual relations while in exile.
When Nyabunyana learned of the pregnancy, she was deeply troubled. Only two people knew that Ndoli was the heir to the Rwandan throne—Nyabunyana and Kavuna, Ndahiro’s servant, who had been sent to protect Ndoli.
Nyabunyana and Kavuna decided to conceal the situation by allowing the servant to have the child. The child, a girl, was named Nyabyinshi to mislead others into believing she was the daughter of Byinshi, one of Ndoli’s uncles.
Nyabunyana gave the servant gifts and directions to help her raise Nyabyinshi far from Karagwe, leading them to Ndorwa (modern-day Uganda).
Nyabyinshi’s Legacy and Rebellion
This remarkable warrior woman, today known by various names across East Africa, including Nyabingi in Uganda and Rwanda, and Nyabongi or Nyandingi in Sudan, became a symbol of resistance against colonial powers.
The Rastafarian movement, particularly its Nyabinghi branch, adopted her name, inspired by her legacy of defiance.
Nyabyinshi’s story is linked to great victories in African history, including Ethiopia’s resistance against European colonisation. At the Battle of Adwa in 1896, Ethiopian forces led by Emperor Menelik II defeated Italian invaders, a victory attributed by some to the spiritual inspiration of Nyabyinshi.
Queen Matamba of Angola, who fought the Portuguese in 1663, also invoked Nyabyinshi’s name in her struggle.
Closer to home, Queen Muhumuza of Kabale, Uganda, fought the British government in Nyabyinshi’s name, further cementing her legacy as a symbol of defiance against colonial rule.
While the world today knows her as Nyabingi, the original name of this great daughter of King Ruganzu II Ndoli was Nyabyinshi, a name crafted to conceal the forbidden relationship between Ndoli and the servant. But why did African warriors choose Nyabyinshi, above all others, to be their symbol of resistance?
In our next issue, we will explore Nyabyinshi’s role in Rwanda’s first liberation war and her pivotal part in the return of King Ndoli from exile.