Ririkumutima
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2022) |
| Ririjumutima | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Regent of Burundi | |||||
Mwezi Gisabo | |||||
| |||||
| Father | Sekawonyi | ||||
| Mother | Inankinso | ||||
Mwamikazi Nidi Ririkumutima Bizima Bitazimiza Mwezi, commonly known as Ririkumutima, (died 28 July 1917) was Queen Regent of Burundi from 1908 to her death. She was married to Burundian king, Mwezi Gisabo in the mid 1890s and she was his favourite wife. However, when king Gisabo died in 1908, Ririkumutima fell out of royalty as one of his sons became king.[1]
Early life and family
Ririkumutima was born in the mid-nineteenth century in the
Political career
The elderly king Mwezi died in 1908.
The role of queen mother (mugabekazi) was a highly revered one in Burundian society; this, coupled with Ririkumutima's political acumen made her a formidable presence.[6] Her other sons became important chiefs in the local aristocracy.
Relation to European colonial government
Though Burundi had become a German colony as part of German East Africa in 1890, the colonial power did not effectively occupy or control the region.[7] In 1916 during World War I, the Belgian troops invaded and occupied the region.[7]
The first Europeans to encounter Ririkumutima described her as being:
carried by bearers on her litter from one royal residence to another and [someone who] personally dealt with the kingdom's affairs. In her visits to the European authorities, this slow-speaking woman, incapable of a movement, showed herself to be as intelligent, as energetic and more stubborn than all the princes in her entourage.
— R. Bourgeois, Banyarwanda et Barundi, (1954), p. 54
Death
Ririkumutima died at Gitega on 28 July 1917.
References
- ^ "Ririkumutima". Infinite Women. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ISBN 9780195382075.
- ^ History, The African (27 March 2021). "Ririkumutima: Intelligent queen that made Germany colonization so hard in Burundi". The African History. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ISBN 9781135456696.
- ^ Women, peace and conflicts in traditional African society. p. 89.
- ^ Émile Mworoha (1991). Histoire sociale de l'Afrique de l'Est (XIXe-XXe siècle). p. 43.
- ^ a b "Kingdom of Burundi". Encyclopædia Britannica (Online ed.). Retrieved 15 October 2016.