King Kigeli’s burial: Will we see the last rich rituals of our culture?

Sunday morning the 16^th October ,  I woke up on bad news that the last symbol of Rwandan Kingdom, his majesty, King Kigeli V Ndahindurwa has passed away in exile.

I am not a fan of kingdom as the world is accelerating to the world of Republic, where some ways of living and governing that have existed during kingdom era have been replaced by new ones, which are said to be democratic.

Kingdom is not my favorite style because I have never seen any King’s enthronement or leadership but, I can’t stand and say that Kingdom has not been my country’s tunnel of leadership for long. It is the one which set pillars of culture that I enjoy today. It is kingdom that formed values that Rwanda stands for today. I am a Rwandan because of that Rwanda that has been maintained by those kings throughout  their kingdoms.

Backing to our subject, the family of his majesty King  Kigeli wishes him to be buried home, though more than fifty years in exile. Rwanda government said it is ready to do whatever possible to help king’s family in burial arrangement, and many people suggested that the King should be buried on his motherland.

I pray his family’s wish and people’s suggestions be valued however, I am still certain. Will we be able to see those old rituals that had characterized kings burials? Will we have that period of kwirabura no kwera and other more royal mourning rituals?

I go on wondering, are still there old men who know how those rituals where performed, so that we young generation have a chance of catching the remains of good old rich Rwandan culture there? Will he be buried near his brother Mutara III Rudahigwa at Mwima na Mushirarungu in the south or near his forefathers in Rutare and Butangampundu in the North ?

Maybe my dreams are nightmare but if some of them come true, let us have a glance at the last ceremonies of our former King because even if he died in America, he has never betrayed his country. We owe him that respect that his forefathers enjoyed.