Thesis Christianity, Islam and Rwandan Traditional Religion: Perspectives on Memory and Reconciliation NDAYIZEYE, Munyansanga Olivier Abstract This thesis seeks to clarify the root causes of anti-Islam attitudes in predominantly Christian Rwanda. First it focuses on the thinking of the first missionaries (White fathers) in their enterprise of sheer rejection of both Islam and Rwandan Traditional Religion. Surprisingly, the influence of Rwandan Traditional Religion on the two other faiths remains significant. Second, it reviews the role played by Western missionaries in reinforcing anti-Islam attitudes in connection with their struggles against Arab slave trade in East Africa in the second half of 19th century. It is necessary to revisit the violent, often hidden history of Christianity, Islam and their relations in Rwanda; after mass atrocities, it is also necessary to undertake a reconciliation of memories. The commemoration of tragedy and suffering informed by reconciliation of memories may be a significant contribution to the healing of the nation and may at the same time contribute for preventing religion-based violence. Reference NDAYIZEYE, Munyansanga Olivier. Christianity, Islam and Rwandan Traditional Religion: Perspectives on Memory and Reconciliation. Thèse de doctorat : Univ. Genève, 2017, no. Théol. 620 DOI : 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:144124 URN : urn:nbn:ch:unige-1441244 Available at: http://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:144124 Disclaimer: layout of this document may differ from the published version. 1 / 1 University of Geneva Autonomous Faculty of Protestant Theology Ecumenical Institute of Bossey Part of the World Council of Churches and attached to the University of Geneva Christianity, Islam and Rwandan Traditional Religion: Perspectives on Memory and Reconciliation By NDAYIZEYE MUNYANSANGA Olivier Thesis presented as part of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in theology (Ecumenism) Supervised by: Dr. Jean Claude Basset (UniGE) Dr. Odair Pedroso Mateus (Bossey) August 2017 i I am a human being: and any injustice towards others makes me angry. I am a human being: any oppression offends who I am. Cardinal Charles M.A. Lavigerie (1825-1892) ii Table of Content Table of Content ............................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... vii ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... x GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1. GENERAL BACKGROUND .................................................................................................. 1 2. RESEARCH AIMS ................................................................................................................... 3 SECTION I: RWANDA AND THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN TRADITIONAL RELIGION, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM ............................................................................ 7 Chapter I. RWANDAN HISTORY AND POPULATION ........................................................ 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1. Origin of the Rwandan Kingdom ......................................................................................... 9 1.1.1. Pre-colonial time ......................................................................................................... 10 1.1.2. The tragedy coup d‟état of Rucunshu in 1896 ............................................................ 11 1.1.3. The social organization called “clan” ......................................................................... 12 1.2. Colonialism ........................................................................................................................ 15 1.2.1. German colonization ................................................................................................... 16 1.2.2. Belgian colonization ................................................................................................... 17 1.3. Hamitic theory ................................................................................................................... 18 1.3.1. Educational discrimination ......................................................................................... 22 1.3.2. Introduction of ethnic identity card............................................................................. 24 1.3.3. Divide for rule ............................................................................................................. 25 1.4. Rwandan social revolution of 1959 ................................................................................... 26 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 29 Chapter II. Historical Perspectives on the Encounter between Traditional Religion, Christianity, and Islam in Rwanda ........................................................................................... 31 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 31 2.1. Arab-Muslim trade of slaves .............................................................................................. 33 2.1.1. Definition of slavery ................................................................................................... 33 iii 2.1.2. Slavery in Africa ......................................................................................................... 35 2.2. Slavery and Islamic faith ................................................................................................... 39 2.2.1. Slavery in Muslim African countries .......................................................................... 41 2.2.2. The theory of the curse of Ham .................................................................................. 43 2.2.3. Negative stereotypes ................................................................................................... 44 2.2.4. Castration of young African boys ............................................................................... 45 2.2.5. Details of the operation ............................................................................................... 46 2.3. Slavery in East Africa and in Rwanda ............................................................................... 48 2.3.1. White Fathers and the mission of fighting slavery ..................................................... 48 2.3.2. The main routes of Arab trade of slaves between 1860-1890 in the Great Lakes Region ................................................................................................................................... 50 2.3.3. Bagamoyo the terminus of slaves ............................................................................... 51 2.3.4. The indescribable pain of slaves ................................................................................. 53 2.4. Slave trade in Rwanda ....................................................................................................... 56 2.4.1. The Institution of Ubuhake ......................................................................................... 56 2.4.2. Slavery in Rwanda ...................................................................................................... 59 2.5. Origin of Christian and Muslim mistrust in Rwanda ......................................................... 60 2.5.1. Interreligious war in Uganda ...................................................................................... 61 2.5.2. Inter-Christian war in Uganda .................................................................................... 63 2.6. The Arrival of the White Fathers in Rwanda ..................................................................... 64 2.7. King Musinga and religion ................................................................................................ 65 2.8. Influence of Rwandan Traditional Religion on new religions ........................................... 68 2.8.1. What is IMANA? ........................................................................................................ 69 2.8.2. The role of spirits in Traditional Religion .................................................................. 70 2.8.3. Spiritual beings called “jinn” in Islam ........................................................................ 71 2.8.4. The cult of kubandwa.................................................................................................. 74 2.8.5. Rwandan Traditional Religion and music................................................................... 80 2.8.6. Christianity and music ................................................................................................ 83 2.8.7. Islam and music .......................................................................................................... 83 2.8.8. Rwandan Traditional Religion and medicine ............................................................