Kigali remainder of the colonial era, as much of the administration took place in Ruanda-Urundi's capital Usumbura, now known as Bujumbura in Burundi. Usumbura's population exceeded 50,000 during the 1950s, and was the colony's only European-style city, while Kigali's population remained at around 6,000 until independence in 1962. Kigali become the capital upon Rwandan independence in 1962. The traditional capital was the seat of the "mwami" (Kings Yuhi V, Mutara III and Kigeli IV) in Nyanza, while the colonial seat of power was in Butare, then known as Astrida. Butare was initially the leading contender to be the capital of the
A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali Kigali" by Patricia Claxton in 2003 (). It was nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award for French to English translation. "Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali" was chosen for inclusion in the French version of "Canada Reads", "Le combat des livres", broadcast on Radio-Canada in 2004, where it was defended by writer, environmentalist and activist Laure Waridel. "Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali" eventually won the contest. Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize 2004 was awarded to the book by Rogers Communications and the Writers' Trust of Canada. In 2006, a movie inspired by the book, "A Sunday