Rwanda has had many Kings who had a different Queens from Gihanga who ruled in the 11th century to Kigeli who ruled last in 1959. today we want to tell you some of the stories of the Last queen who died in the Genocide against the Tutsis in 1994, “Queen Rosalie Gicanda“
Born in 1928 in Kiziguro, Rosalie Gicanda is the daughter of Martin Gatsinzi and Christiana Makwindigiri. She was born into the Banyiginya clan and the Bahebera lineage. During the final test. Gicanda was chosen by King Mutara III Rudahigwa who was charmed by her natural modesty.
Rosalie Gicanda spent her childhood in Ndorwa where her father settled with his family.
At the age of 13, she was selected among the other beautiful girls of Rwanda to become a royal bride. In fact, King Mutara III Rudahigwa divorced his first wife, Nyiramakomari, in 1940 and vowed to remarry and have offspring, especially an heir, which he had not had at the time.
At the end of 1941, Gicanda went to Shyogwe, to the palace of the Queen Mother of Rwanda, Nyiramavugo III Kankazi. Alongside Rosalie Mukamutara, the favourite candidate, Euphrasie Kayirangwa and Valerie Mukansoroza, Gicanda was put to the test by the queen mother and her younger sister, Immaculée Kabanyana.
She was observed. Her actions, qualities and faults were noted and annotated. During the final test. Gicanda was chosen by King Mutara III Rudahigwa who was charmed by her natural modesty.
Rosalie Cicanda and Mutara Rudahigwa got married religiously on 18 January 1942, during a ceremony celebrated in the Kabgayi basilica.
She later joined her husband at the royal palace in Rukari. The two formed a close couple.
Gicanda discreetly advised her husband and made it a point of honour to distance herself from the exercise of power. She was always by her husband’s side at all major events in the country and accompanied him on trips abroad in 1955 and 1958.
At the same time, she completed her intellectual and religious training with the Benebikira Sisters of Nyanza.
After her husband died in mysterious circumstances in 1959, the Rwandan monarchy lasted only two more years, under the leadership of King Kigeli V Ndahindurwa and then coming to an end with the Rwandan Revolution in 1961,However, the Queen continued to live in Butare [Huye] in South Province, Rwanda, along with her mother and several ladies-in-waiting, where she was later murdered during the Rwandan genocide.
