Kanjogera
Kanjogera, officially known by her regnal names Nyiramibambwe IV and Nyirayuhi V, was the queen mother of the Kingdom of Rwanda from 1889 to 1931, becoming the regent and then co-ruler of the state during the reign of her son Yuhi V Musinga.
A member of the powerful Bega clan, she became the consort of Rwandan King Kigeli IV Rwabugiri in 1861 and rose to his favorite wife, bearing him two sons. When Kigeli IV Rwabugiri appointed his son Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa as co-regent in 1889, Kanjogera was chosen as the new monarch's queen mother despite this being a breach of traditional customs. After Kigeli IV Rwabugiri's death in 1895, Kanjogera led a faction alongside her brother that plotted to overthrow Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa to place her own son on the throne. This conspiracy culminiated in the Rucunshu Coup of 1896, paving the way for Kanjogera to establish a new regime with her underage son as puppet ruler. The Bega-led government faced substantial resistance from various groups over the next years, contributing to Kanjogera and her brothers opting to accept submission to the German Empire to gain allies and stabilize their rule. After also organizing a series of purges, she gradually cemented her reign and continued to hold great power after her son came of age. Her rule saw the gradual colonization of Rwanda, first by the German Empire and then Belgium. In 1931, Kanjogera and her son were deposed by the Belgian administration, spending the rest of their lives in exile.
Biography
Early life and marriage to Kigeli IV Rwabugiri
Kanjogera was born at Rugaragara in Rwanda around 1847. Her parents were part of the state's nobility, with her father being Chief Rwakagara who was part of the Bega clan and the Bakagara lineage, directly descending from Rwakagara. Her mother Nyiramashyongoshyo was the daughter of Mukotanyi of the Banyiginya clan and the Baka lineage. She grew up with three full siblings, namely her sister Nyamashaza and her brothers Cyigenza and Mbanzabigwi, and 17 half-siblings born to her father's other wives, including Giharamagara, Nyamushanja, Ruhinajoro, Ruhinankiko, Kabare, Rwibishenga, Sharibabaza, Ryahama, Rwabigwi, Rwandoha, Segatwa, Rubera, Nsekarubera, Shengenya, Ilibagiza, Nyirandilikiye, and Ikinani. Her wider family was politically very influential and held high-ranking positions, with many male members being chiefs and the women often marrying other powerful nobles or even the kings of Rwanda. Women could also rise to the powerful position of Queen Mother, serving as the co-ruler of the king. The Bega were one of the clans whose members were allowed to become queen mothers. Accordingly, many Bega women had risen to queen mother during Rwandan history, and Bega women had often retained great influence on their royal sons.When Kanjogera was around 14 years old, her marriage with King Kigeli IV Rwabugiri was arranged. Oral traditions claim that the monarch fell deeply in love with the girl during their first meeting, immediately gifting her a large herd of dynastic cows as well as a residence in Kabuye, a location in Jabana. The marriage took place at Ngara in Bumbogo in October 1861. Kanjogera moved to the Kabuye residence in 1862, and was often visited by the monarch; she reportedly showcased great affection and attention during each visit, further increasing Kigeli IV Rwabugiri's love for her. However, she suffered from several miscarriages, but eventually gave birth to two sons, Munana around 1870 and Musinga around 1883. The birth of Munana further increased her standing in Kigeli IV Rwabugiri's eyes, and he gifted her more residences at Giseke, Nyagisenyi, Bweramvura in Kinihira, Gatsibo in Mitoma in Mutara, Bweramvura in Rutongo, Mwima in Nyanza and Sakara in Gisaka. This marked her rise to the king's favorite consort, and she became celebrated by royal court members with laudatory songs such as Ikibasumba and i Mitoma.
Kanjogera's rise in status also benefitted her family. Her brothers Ruhinankiko and Kabare were granted marriage to the monarch's sister and daughter respectively, with Kabare also receiving command of the powerful Abashakamba militia and the Impeta-Umuhozi cattle herd. Other brothers, namely Mbanzabigwi, Giharamagara, and Nyamushanja were also granted high officer positions in the royal army and administrative duties. According to traditional narratives, Kanjogera quickly started to stand out due to breaking traditional taboos for Rwandan women. One story related how the queen's brother Giharamagara, by then appointed as royal beer maker, got into a fight with King Kigeli IV Rwabugiri during a military campaign to Butembo. The two were alone aside of Kanjogera in a hut, and the dispute escalated into violence until Giharamagara started to strangle the monarch, whereupon the queen took a sword and killed her own brother to save her husband. This earned her the monarch's lasting gratitude, though led to her being accused of having conspired her brother's death. She subsequently became generally known to wield a sword, something usually forbidden to women in Rwanda; popular stories accused her of having a "penchant for bloodshed".
Kanjogera's eldest son Munana died unexpectedly in 1886. To avoid a succession struggle after his death, Kigeli IV Rwabugiri eventually chose his adopted adult son Rutarindwa as a successor and appointed him co-regent. In accordance to Rwandan customs, a queen mother was traditionally also appointed when a new monarch took power. As Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa's mother was already dead, Kigeli IV Rwabugiri opted to make Kanjogera the "adoptive" queen mother for Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa. This was a controversial choice, and the king's advisors as well as the ritualists unsuccessfully argued against the choice. Traditionally, adoptive queen mothers had to lack sons eligible to rule and belonged to the same lineage as their adoptive son. In contrast, Kanjogera was part of a different clan and had a son, Musinga, who could succeed the throne, both traits which made her a potential opponent of Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa. Furthermore, Kigeli IV Rwabugiri's father Mutara II Rwogera had mandated that no more Bega clan members should become queen mothers. The exact reason for Kanjogera's appointment as queen mother remains unclear; it was popularly attributed to Kigeli IV Rwabugiri's immense love for his favorite wife. Historian Alison Des Forges alternatively suggested a realpolitik reasoning, as the king might have sought to appease the powerful Bega by connecting them with the new monarch without granting them full control. Rutarindwa was enthroned with the name Mibambwe IV in 1889, while Kanjogera took the regnal name Nyiramibambwe IV.
Power struggles and coup
In September 1895, Kigeli IV Rwabugiri unexpectedly died from illness in late 1895, either at the start or during a military expedition against the Bushi on the west side of Lake Kivu. Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa thus became the sole monarch, and the transfer of power initially appeared smooth. In reality, a Bega-led faction surrounding Queen Mother Kanjogera as well as her influential brothers Kabare and Ruhinankiko were already plotting a political takeover. After completing the burial as well as mourning/purification ceremonies for Kigeli IV Rwabugiri, Kanjogera's clique covertly began to set their plans to place her son Musinga on the throne into motion. The plotters gathered prominent allies in Chief Rutishereka, Prince Baryinyonza, and Rukangirashyamba who was the guardian of the kingdom's esoteric code. Their faction was opposed by a loyalist faction consisting of powerful court officials such as Rutikanga, Kibaba, Chief Bisangwa, Prince Muhigirwa, Chief Mugugu, Prince Karara, and Chief Cyoya. The king's party commanded the most powerful units in the royal army, ensuring that conspirators were initially at a disadvantage. Suspecting the disloyalty of Kanjogera's group, Muhigirwa urged Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa to use his military strength to purge the Bega faction at court, but the king refused.The first open challenges to Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa's regime did not come from within, however, but from the border regions. The death of Kigeli IV Rwabugiri triggered revolts in various regions, as conquered peoples and vassal rulers used the opportunity to break away from Rwandan control. Furthermore, an armed expedition of the Congo Free State entered southwestern Rwanda and set up camp at Shangi, seeking to annex the region into the private state of Belgian King Leopold II. Disputes erupted at the Rwandan court over the best course of action in response to the Congo Free State's aggression, as the Rwandan leadership knew of the power of the European colonial militaries due to a minor battle during Kigeli IV Rwabugiri's reign. Various officials thus argued for attempts at a peaceful solution, but Kanjogera's brothers Kabare and Rutishereka argued that the Europeans had come as conquerors and could not be tolerated. They convinced Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa to send his best troops under his loyal officers Bisangwa and Muhigirwa to deal with the invasion. Watkins, Jessee, and military researcher Frank Rusagara argued that the dispatch of the elite royalist troops under the king's loyal commanders was likely part of a conspiracy by the Bega faction; by provoking a conflict with the Belgians, the Bega faction ensured the "inevitable defeat" of Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa's best troops as well as his humiliation.
The Battle of Shangi in July 1896 was a political disaster for Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa. The Rwandan royal army suffered a crushing defeat, and Bisangwa was killed in combat. The king's reputation heavily suffered, weakening his position at court. The Bega-led faction under Kanjogera exploited the situation, organizing the killings of several followers of the king, including Mugugu and Bisangwa's brother Sehene. The clique also convinced Prince Muhigirwa to defect to their side. The tensions became increasingly obvious and public, with even common Rwandans starting to move around with their weapons in expectation of violence.
In December 1896, the Bega under Kabare eventually launched the Rucunshu Coup, overthrowing Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa. After his loyal troops were defeated by the coupists, the monarch set fire to his residence and committed suicide alongside his wives and children. In the process, the spiritually important regalia such as the royal drum also burnt and were destroyed, permanently tarnishing the reputation of the following regime. The queen mother expressed concerns over the loss of the items during the coup, but Kabare reportedly responded "We have the mwami, we can make the drum". After her victory, Kanjogera relocated the royal residence from Rucunshu to Rwamiko ; her son Musinga was declared the new king. The underage boy was enthroned with the name Yuhi V in January 1897, effectively becoming a puppet ruler of Kanjogera's clique. The queen mother also chose a new throne name, namely Nyirayuhi V.