Culture & Etiquette

1. Umuganda ni umunsi wo gukorera hamwe

   u-mu-gan-da ni u-mu-n-si wo gu-ko-re-ra ha-mwe

   Umuganda is a day for working together

   Usage

   Explaining Umuganda, Rwanda's monthly community service day held on the last Saturday of each month

   Grammar Note

   "Ni" is the Kinyarwanda copula (to be). "Hamwe" means "together". Umuganda is a national institution in Rwanda, held every last Saturday morning.

2. Ubwiyunge bwacu ni ingenzi

   u-bwi-yun-ge bwa-cu ni i-ngen-zi

   Our reconciliation / coexistence is important

   Usage

   Discussing Rwanda's culture of reconciliation and national unity

   Grammar Note

   "Bwacu" uses the class 14 ("ubu-") connector "bwa-" with "-cu" ("our"). Kinyarwanda has 16+ noun classes, each with its own concord patterns. Reconciliation is "ubwiyunge"; "ubusabane" means "fellowship / communion", which is a different idea.

3. Kwibuka ni ngombwa

   kwi-bu-ka ni ngom-bwa

   Remembrance is necessary

   Usage

   Discussing the importance of remembering the 1994 Rwandan Genocide

   Grammar Note

   "Kwibuka" is the infinitive (ku- form) functioning as a subject noun. "Kwibuka" is also the name of Rwanda's official genocide commemoration event.

4. Intore ni imbyino y'Abanyarwanda

   in-to-re ni im-byi-no y'A-ba-nya-rwan-da

   Intore is the dance of Rwandans

   Usage

   Introducing Intore, Rwanda's traditional warrior dance

   Grammar Note

   "Y'Abanyarwanda" uses the class 9 connector "y'" (shortened "ya"). The prefix "Aba-" marks human plural class in "Abanyarwanda" (Rwandan people).

5. Ikawa y'u Rwanda ni nziza

   i-ka-wa y'u Rwan-da ni nzi-za

   Rwandan coffee is excellent

   Usage

   Talking about Rwanda's famous coffee, a key export and cultural product

   Grammar Note

   "Y'u Rwanda" contracts "ya + u Rwanda". "U" is the Kinyarwanda country prefix. Rwanda's specialty coffee is among the world's best.

6. Agaciro ni ingingo ya mbere

   a-ga-ci-ro ni in-gi-ngo ya mbe-re

   Dignity is the foremost principle

   Usage

   Discussing "agaciro", the Rwandan concept of dignity and self-worth

   Grammar Note

   "Aga-" in "agaciro" is the class 12 diminutive/abstract prefix. "Agaciro" is also a key slogan in Rwanda's national development philosophy.

7. Imigongo ni ubuhanzi bw'u Rwanda

   i-mi-gon-go ni u-bu-han-zi bw'u Rwan-da

   Imigongo is Rwandan art

   Usage

   Introducing Imigongo, Rwanda's traditional geometric art made from cow dung

   Grammar Note

   "Bw'u Rwanda" contracts "bwa + u Rwanda". "Ubu-" in "ubuhanzi" is the class 14 abstract noun prefix. Imigongo uses natural pigments on cow-dung substrate.

8. Gusangira ni umuco wacu

   gu-san-gi-ra ni u-mu-co wa-cu

   Sharing is our culture

   Usage

   Expressing Rwanda's spirit of communal sharing

   Grammar Note

   "Gusangira" is the infinitive (gu-) form acting as a noun subject. "Umu-" in "umuco" is the class 3 prefix (distinct from the human singular class 1), used for abstract nouns and things.

9. Ibitekerezo by'abakurambere

   i-bi-te-ke-re-zo by'a-ba-ku-ram-be-re

   wisdom of the ancestors

   Usage

   Discussing Rwanda's oral tradition and ancestral wisdom

   Grammar Note

   "Ibi-" is the class 8 plural prefix. "By'" contracts from "bya" (class 8 connector). "Aba-" is the human plural class prefix in "abakurambere".

10. Mu Rwanda tukundana

    mu Rwan-da tu-kun-da-na

    In Rwanda, we love one another

    Usage

    Expressing Rwanda's spirit of national unity and love

    Grammar Note

    "Tu-" is first person plural subject prefix, "-ana" is the reciprocal suffix (to do to each other). "Tukundana" = "we love each other". Kinyarwanda has rich reciprocal verb forms.

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