Musanze’s Nyiramasasa strong and smart as she toasts to century of life

At 30, many a youth today is probably wincing at the slightest twitch of body muscle. Their dress code is arguably terrible. But in Musanze, a centurion is the envy of the district. Juliana Nyiramasasa, born November 1913, in the present Gasiza Sector in Musanze District (former Ruhengeri prefecture), could be mistaken for a 60-year-old. And her touch of garbs is very much in the taste buds of even the teens.Simply put, this is not a woman you call old; she has lived and aged gracefully.On Saturday, residents converged at the sector to send goodwill messages to Nyiramasasa, whose birthday coincided with the centenary jubilee celebrations of Rwandan Christian churches.Nyiramasasa’s has been as strong in life as the foundation on which the churches are built.It was a day of joy, smile for a still-physically-strong Nyiramasasa, who was crowned ‘Queen’ on her 100th birthday celebration.Her story is different from that of other people because her father, Pangras Ruhanga, was chief (Umutware) of Umurera region, who married to Abela. The family was respected.But the story of a centenarian has been a mixture of both good and bad periods: being a daughter of the chief growing in a good life but later becoming a refugee for more than 30 years as she fled the country with other Tutsis during the violence in 1959-1960.The resident of Ruhengeri Cell, Muhoza Sector in Musanze District fled Rwanda in 1960 to Uganda, then DR Congo before returning to Uganda. She ended the yoke of refugee life in 1994 when she repatriated.Not weathered by timeAlthough online information shows that a loss of vision starts at age 65 and makes simple daily tasks difficult or impossible, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, at her 100th birthday celebrations, Nyiramasasa was able to read the Bible and other messages from well-wishers.She is able to check time on her wrist watch and residents say she is good at playing a board game, locally know as Igisoro, that requires critical thinking. At the age of five, Nyiramasasa was taken to the King’s Palace to be raised with her age-mates so they could be trained and educated in Rwandan culture from whom the king would choose his future wives. But through negotiations she left the palace.Nyiramasasa went to Rwaza Convent School in Northern Province when she was nine and left while in Primary Five.She married Pierre Claver Kabanda, who was then a teacher and later became a sub-chief of the area.They had seven children, who, sadly, would not live to blow their mother’s 50th candle. Nyiramasasa herself would also be widowed in 1950.As a widow, to earn a living, she opted to go for vocational training and learnt tailoring and decoration that she said helped her earn a living.She says she used to sell her products to priests in the area as well as other locals.Nyiramasasa is now regarded as a parent and grandmother of hundreds of children. She has been a foster mother and grandmother of many children.The family members and neighbours, some of whom are physically weaker, describe her as a kind-hearted parent, supportive, humble and lover of everybody.“I grew up calling her my mother. She raised me as her own daughter, fed me and dressed me; she used to advise me to do what is good and abhor anything bad. She is a Christian and taught me how to pray. She helped me until I married and she took on my children as her grandchildren,” said one Dancille, 73, a relative.Nyiramasasa’s memoriesNyiramasasa has fond memories of her childhood. She said her childhood was characterised by love and respect of all, especially for the poor.“I grew up in a modest family that was welcoming and was taught to respect everyone. I stood for the same. What made me happy in my life was being at peace with everyone whether family members or neighbours, that was the secret of my life,” she said.“I’m happy and thank Almighty God because I’m celebrating this centenary jubilee with my great family. I had been a refugee for years and I thought I wouldn’t have a big family like this.” “Repatriation is something that lit my face afresh. When I returned home, I was happy to see Rwanda again. Although many of my family members were killed (in the build up to and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi), I found some who survived. I am happy that the family is growing and I will leave behind great descendants,” Nyiramasasa said.She advises the youth and Rwandans in general to strive for love and respect for one another to build a strong nation.“Rwandans should love and respect one another, people who don’t love each other are not people; only animals do that. Let’s be kind, proud and patriotic for our Mother Nation,” she said.

National

Musanze’s Nyiramasasa strong and smart as she toasts to century of life