Nyabinghi, or Nyabingi, is a legendary figure in the cultural traditions of Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. Despite her historical significance, much of the written record reduces her to a mythical figure. In our previous article, we discussed her birth and departure from Karagwe. Today, we explore her pivotal role in Rwanda's first liberation war. During the reign of King Ndahiro II Cyamatare, Rwanda was fraught with internal strife. King Ndahiro had several brothers, including Prince Juru, Bamara, Bwimba, and Mutezi, all of whom opposed his rule. On the other hand, brothers like Binama, Gahu, and Karanganwa remained loyal to the king. The dissenting princes sought to eliminate Ndoli, King Ndahiro’s son, believing his death would secure their leadership. Bamara was tasked with assassinating Ndoli. However, Ndahiro had anticipated such treachery. When he sent his son into exile, he also provided a coded message to Nyabunyana, instructing that no one should be allowed to see Ndoli without knowing the code. The question was, When did we meet last time? The correct response: We met last time sitting together at nape on a soft rock. Bwimba, unaware of this code, failed to locate Ndoli. The internal conflict weakened Ndahiro's position, and Juru, with the support of his brothers, declared himself king. Rwanda was divided, with the western part of Nyabarongo under King Ndahiro and the eastern part under Juru. Eventually, King Ndahiro relocated to Kibilira but was later attacked by Juru and King Nsibula Nyebuga of Bushi. Rather than face defeat, Ndahiro committed suicide. After Ndahiro's death, Rwanda fragmented into various regions. Juru ruled the eastern side of Nyabarongo, while figures like Nyagakecuru and Bamara controlled parts of Gikongoro, and Nzira ya Muramira ruled Ruhengeri. Nsibula, having declared himself King of Rwanda, reigned over all these divided territories. In this turbulent period, two key figures emerged to pave the way for Ndoli’s return: Sebula and Nyabyinshi. Nyabyinshi, a daughter of Ndoli, and Sebula, his brother, played critical roles in rallying support for Rwanda's liberation. Sebula’s rise was foretold by prophets, who advised King Ndahiro to father a child with a servant. This child, they prophesied, would save Rwanda after Ndahiro’s death. Following the child’s birth, both mother and son were exiled to Idjwi, where he grew up under the name Sebula. The prophets further instructed Ndahiro to bury the boy’s umbilical cord near the Rwanda-Karagwe border, predicting that a Umuvumu tree would grow at the site. Sebula’s destiny, they foretold, was intertwined with the fall of this tree, signaling Ndoli’s return. As Sebula grew, his mother revealed his true lineage and the tragic story of his father’s death at the hands of Ntsibula. Fueled by a desire for revenge, Sebula formed a formidable army in Idjwi, preparing to confront the forces of Juru and Bamara. Sebula's army crossed Lake Kivu into Rwanda, defeating Bamara’s forces in Gikongoro and forcing them to retreat. Afterward, Sebula moved through Gitarama and established his residence in Kamonyi, declaring himself leader of the western part of the Nyabarongo River. There, he trained his troops in preparation for battle against those who had wrongfully taken his father’s life. Oral history recounts that after a fierce battle, Sebula’s troops, hungry and tired, ventured into a forest in Bugesera to hunt. During this journey, Sebula passed by the site where his umbilical cord had been buried. At the base of the now-massive Umuvumu tree, he stepped on a thorn, which led to his death days later. True to the prophecy, the tree fell, signaling that Ndoli’s time to return had come. Sebula was buried at the site, and before colonial powers arrived, a tree known as Ikimana cya Sebula stood as a reminder of his sacrifice. While Sebula trained his army in Idjwi, Nyabyinshi was similarly preparing forces in Ndorwa, where she commanded an army of both men and women known as the ABAGIRWA. She established her first camp in Nyakishenyi, where she trained her troops before marching into Rwanda. Nyabyinshi’s forces met little resistance in Byumba, and she pressed on to Butaro in northern Rwanda, establishing her headquarters there. From Butaro, she launched her first successful assault against Kibibi, the ruler of Gisenyi, defeating his forces. By this time, Sebula had died, and Ndoli had returned from Karagwe with his own army of IBISUMIZI warriors. Together, the IBISUMIZI and ABAGIRWA forces defeated Nzira ya Muramira’s troops in Ruhengeri. After liberating the entire country, King Ruganzu Ndoli summoned Nyabyinshi and honoured her for her role in his victory, saying, “Because you have helped defeat my enemies, I will sit on the throne, but you will be honoured as Princess over my Kingdom. Your name will be venerated by my people.” This is the remarkable story of Princess Nyabyinshi, a warrior whose legacy has been diminished by colonial-era writings, which sought to undermine her contributions and obscure her greatness. In our next issue, we will delve into the story of another extraordinary woman in Rwandan history: Nyirarucyaba, daughter of Gihanga, the founding father of Rwanda. Until then, stay blessed.
