Religion and Origins

Rwanda, like most cultures, has creation myths.  In Rwandan culture Imana is the creator god of the earth and man.  One myth tells of how Imana told a man not to fall asleep one night and if he did not Imana would grant him long life.  The man fell asleep and a snake who overheard the conversation pretended to be the man when Imana came.  Instead of the man, the snake received the news that he would die but be reborn and would grow elderly but shed his old skin and be renewed.  The gift was given to the snake’s descendants as well.[1]  

Rwanda is now a predominantly Christian nation.  Over 60 percent of Rwandans are Catholics and 30 percent are Protestants.  Christian missionaries did not come to Rwanda until 1900, which is when the Catholic White Fathers established mission centers in the country.[2]  German Lutherans began missions in 1908 but were driven out during World War I and replaced by Belgians.[3]  Since the Rwandan Genocide, the Church continues to aid and promote healing to the Rwandan people.  Rwanda remains largely Catholic but there has been an increase in Protestantism in the country, particularly in the Pentecostal denominations.

Today, Rwandan culture blends Christianity with indigineous beliefs.  A large portion of those beliefs centers around forms of ancestor worship.  Rwandan familial ancestors are called abazima.[4]  If sacrifices are given to the abazima then the ancestors will protect the family.  Imana is identified as a spirit and not associated with established religion.  That provides the basis for the cultural trend of incorporating indigineous beliefs into practiced religion in Rwanda today.

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[1] Harold Scheub, "Imana and the Childless Couple," in A Dictionary of African Mythology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780195124569.001.0001/acref-9780195124569-e-111.

[2] Kevin Ward, “A Brief History of the Church in Rwanda,” Dictionary of African Christian Biography, http://www.dacb.org/history/rwanda-briefhistory.htm.

[3] Ibid.

[4] “Rwanda – Religion,” East Africa Living Encyclopedia, University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center, https://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/rwreligion.htm.