While a good number of citizens may have shared corn, milk, and other traditional dishes on Friday August 5 to mark Umuganura, not many walked home with a pregnant cow like Alphonsine Mukaruziga, 87, a resident of Rulindo district.

Mukaruziga, whose first cow she was gifted by President Kagame died five years ago, joined dancers from Urukerereza, the national ballet as they danced to ‘Hinga amasaka’ (grow sorghum)- where dancers carry hoes and imitate farmers, to show their excitement.

Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente and Minister of Youth and Culture Mbabazi give milik to children during the event

She told The New Times that her smile will not fade, even at night, because her daughter and grandchildren whom they live together with will start drinking milk.

"They have compensated me, I am happy. We ate millet cake, sorghum cake, sweet potatoes, and banana, but this year’s Umuganura is different because I got a cow,” the excited Mukaruziga said.

She lost her seven sons and husband, and was depending on sorghum porridge since her teeth have fallen out one after the other over decades.

The practice to share one’s harvest with the vulnerable, neighbours, friends and family, known as ‘Kuganuza’, is an important part of the Umuganura celebration, as said by Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente, who had graced the festivity.

"The government of Rwanda has gifted five cows to vulnerable families that would have still qualified for the Girinka programme. It is in line with Umuganura, where families that harvested share with those who haven’t yet,” Ngirente said.

Residents eat maize to mark the celebration of Umuganura in Rurindo District

A group of students-Imitavu-who had presented a poem at the event, was also given three cows.

"This day is a public holiday so that people can be able to celebrate what they achieved, and not just agricultural harvests. We also celebrate what was achieved across the country such as new infrastructure, hospitals, and schools,” Ngirente said.

He added that people should work hard during the upcoming planting season so that the next harvest will be many times the one being celebrated today.

Some of equipments and clothes that were useful in the ancient Rwanda

The country traditionally has two planting seasons, the first running from September through January, and the other from February to June, which makes August a perfect month to celebrate annual harvests.

Apart from the dance and music by Urukerereza, traditional drummers, ‘Abakaraza,’ drummed in different genres that were famous in pre-colonial Rwanda.

Attendees, who were wearing their best, including Umushanana, also shared maize and juice, while the Prime Minister gave children milk, a famous act that was usually done by the King.

This year’s celebration is running under the theme ‘Umuganura, the source of unity and basis of independence 

Umuganura is Rwanda’s version of thanksgiving, celebrated every first Friday of August since 2011 after being halted by colonialists in 1925. Researchers say it goes way back to the 11th century, when Gihanga Ngomijana reigned.

This year’s celebration is running under the theme ‘Umuganura, the source of unity and basis of independence,’ and was held in Rulindo District at national level.

Alphonsine Mukaruziga, 87, a resident of Rulindo district poses for a picture with her cow that she was given during the celebrations in Rurindo.

This year’s celebration is running under the theme ‘Umuganura, the source of unity and basis of independence