“The First Rwandan Car”

These days, nothing is impossible; meaning that, once you set your mind to something, then, not even is the sky the limit! As you know, Rwanda has joined the many countries that take to the skies, I mean; Rwanda has its own Aeroplane company aka Rwanda Air. This has left many talking in whispers, “how the hell is this tiny country managing where its huge neighbours have failed?” The answer is simply one, “Agaciro” (Value). Rwanda is the first country to own the “Boeing 737-800 with SKY Interior”, ya with that in mind, nothing is impossible. I could go on and on till the cows come back home! Now, next on the wonder list is none other than a Rwandan Vehicle or May I call it a car aka Jeep! No wonder it is a Jeep because most of us love Jeeps. The other day, I was left wondering when Diaspoman’s long time friend, aka Afande Niko invited us to go and “gutaha” (inaugurate) his “new” Jeep. Ok, no problem with that, we love festivities. We rushed to the venue and beers began flowing faster than Nyabarongo River, no sooner had we started than many could not pronounce their own names. What do you expect when it is in the middle of a “drought”? As soon as the partying was over, we all decided to leave for home, but as soon as Afanded Niko got into his “new” , it “refused” to “catch fire” or is it to start! We had to push start the vehicle. That is what happens to “some new” vehicles; yes, yes, yes, though this Jeep was “brand new” to Afande Niko, it was not new, reason being, it was an “over used” vehicle wherever it came from! Now, back to the main topic for today. As I was seated at one of the many few good joints in this town, there was an elderly gentleman seated with other two fellows, they all looked well to do. They were enjoying some “Petit SKOL” (these come in small green bottles). Seems it is fashionable to take beers that come in green bottles eh! I was seated a table or two away from them. Then, there entered a very nice flashy car or Jeep. This was no ordinary Jeep, it looked so feminine, it has all the curves and was so shapely, it had its headlights slightly on as if it was dozing but not sleeping! It really depicted the Rwandan beauty. The man who looked like the leader of the group started talking on top of his voice. “Look at that car, it is Rwandan”. The other member of his group were all amazed and could not hold back the surprise or is it pride or a mixture of both! As the message sank in, one of the men asked him, “iyo Jeep yitwa gute”(what is that Jeep called)? The elder answered, “yitwa MURAHO” (it is called MURAHO – how are you). They all agreed that, this was the first Rwandan Vehicle. Many times, we perceive things wrongly due to mistaken identity. The vehicle they were all amused about was none other than a “MURANO, the MURANO is a NISSAN and I wondered how it could have been Rwandan! Maybe because the guy read the name wrongly, MURAHO for MURANO!