KNOW YOUR HISTORY: The significance of Gutwikurura

Gutwikurura is translated literary as “unveiling”. For the sake of this ceremony, the bride is presumed to be veiled from the world. Gutwikurura was and still is regarded as the final ceremony in the marriage series. In his book “Ubukwe bwi’wacu”, Munezero F. Gasimba says the wife’s family would visit her at her new home and bring a number of items to help her settle in. Prior to this, the wife was required not to be seen in public and to refrain from any work. This was derived from the shyness or fear the wife would get after her first night with her husband since she believed that everyone had learnt about it and so it was known as “gutinya” (fearing). Dr Nzabonimpa Jacques, the director of culture, research, protection and promotion unit, says this period lasted a bout one to two weeks or more. While hidden away from everyone, the lady would make a basket which she would give her mother-in-law when she had been unveiled, and its in this ceremony that the wife would make a meal for her family and in-laws for the first time. At the end of any visit to a Rwandan home, including this one, a host would often offer their guests Agashingura Cumu – which literally means ‘that which pulls out the spear’. This ceremony was mainly dominated by the family of the girl to release their daughter to the full status of a wife and so with them they would carry local beer, milk and many different items. Before they left their home, they would put “ingasire” (a grinding stone ) and “umwuko” (wooden stick used for cooking) at the entrance of their home and they would place one of their toes on it. After, these objects would be taken away so that people will not slide on them and fall because falling symbolised death of the first born. However, this was ceremonial and meant a blessing upon the bride and it had to be done before the family and friends went to carry out the actual ceremony. In his book “Imihango nimigenzo nimiziririzo”, Aloyse says when everyone was out and set to leave, they would smear some flour on the entrance as a blessing of their journey and that flour was called “Nyabitabo”. At their arrival, the sisters of the husband would get some beer from that the bride’s family had brought and the bride, her husband, her brother in-law,and the one who gave her out as a bride would get the milk the bride’s family had brought and put it all in one big calabash, cover it and then shake it until it produces ghee then they would separate the ghee from the spoilt milk. In his book “Ubukwe bwabanyarwanda”, Ndekezi slyvester says the ceremony of shaving the bride’s hair would start. Her father-in-law would start by shaving some hair, followed by her husband, then her brother who completed the shaving. In cases where they did not know how to shave, they would put a shaver on her hair as a symbol that they have shaved her then they would let the ones who knew how to shave do the job. Dr Nzabonimpa Jacque says the three people who shaved her had to give her a gift and then the Gutwikurura ceremony would be ended and The wife’s family would then return home and the young couple would begin their new life together. Today unveiling is just a symbol of culture since in most cases this ceremony is done at the same time as the wedding and give away ceremonies. The ceremony of shaving cannot be done because girls today treasure hair a lot more. However, since in most cases the bride and groom plus their families are in a hurry, a lot is not done.

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KNOW YOUR HISTORY: The significance of Gutwikurura