ALL AFRICA
Timothy Njoroge is a leading Rwandan writer. Njoroge was born in Masisi in Democratic Republic of Congo but moved to Kenya at the age of fourteen. He attended Aga Khan High school before joining the University of Nairobi where he pursued a Bachelors Degree in Education. He attained a Post Graduate Diploma in Curriculum Development from the University of London.
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What are the stories about?
These are stories that depict the positive values that identified who a Rwandan was before colonialism. For instance, what people should know about Rwanda in terms of culture and character.
It is a collection of things that differentiates people; they could be actions or the food they eat, the dressing and character.
Therefore, the things that defined a Rwandan before colonialism included; courage, love, perseverance, patriotism and so many other traits.
These values where killed by colonialists systematically, slowly by slowly to the extent that by 1994 there was nothing left. This was why it was possible for genocide to take place.
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How did you get to know about the stories about the pre- colonial era?
Myths are imaginary stories which use names of people, animals and place introducing a certain situation to the force of nature. They were invented by our fore fathers who passed them on to us from generation to generation.
Myths embrace the whole culture structure of any given society in order to encourage a common conscience and develop certain key cultural values such as love, courage, patience as well as tolerance and kindness.
These virtues were very crucial for the survival of the pre-colonial Rwandan state. They served as a yardstick which determined good leadership and ensured stability for the sake of the entire society.
Three of the stories in this book where passed on to me by my mother.
Although my mother could not read, she kept on telling these stories and they impacted my life and my siblings.
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(Thanks to reader)