Situated in Nyanza ya Butare district, presently known as Huye, this history laden site was constructed in 1932.
It is a traditional stead with an unmistakable tinge of modernism to it, and a blend of these makes this place a must visit place for all tour enthusiast
According to www.visitrwanda.com it is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence, and the King’s palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive
This ethnographic museum encapsulates a great deal of Rwandan monarchial history, which sort of rule was abolished after Rwanda’s independence from their colonial masters.
In its backyard, the cattle that formerly belonged to the monarchy are tended to, and their lineage has been maintained even after the abolishment of the kingdom that rewarded them as a great source of prestige
These cattle, which have a striking resemblance plus some genes of the famous Ankole long-horned cattle of Uganda, have one intriguing attribute.
From the time they are mere calves, they are nurtured to listen to their voice of their herdsmen, and these sing them soothing songs and take care of them like the precious jewels they are.
While at the palace, therefore, one gets to experience all the aforementioned plus some royal regalia like the symbol of power, mats and chairs, all made in a peculiar way
Presidential Museum
This palace, now known to be a museum, is located in the outskirts of Kigali city; in the eastern side. It was known to be the residence of the Rwandan president before the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Prior to this tragedy, the palace had housed two Rwandan presidents plus their families
A visit to this historically noteworthy palace you an insight into the tragedy happened on April 6th 1994, when President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane was gunned down. Unfortunately, he was in the company of the Burundian president, who did not survive either
It contains debris from this catastrophic occurrence which gave impetus to the already mentioned 1994 stain In Rwanda’s history, whereby the embittered Tutsi and Hutus wielded pangas plus other deadly tools at each other, massacring everyone who crossed their path; young or old, male or female, innocent or guilty
Besides the alluring history behind this palace, there are some features about it that are worth seeing. These include the various fruit trees in the compound, the art piece that was gifted to the then president, plus the lavish nature of this democide which has become a much sought-after museum for most history lover.
A tour guide on site is position to give visitors all details denoting to all the rooms of this building, plus any other mementos one may be curious about
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