Rwanda of 1884 assigned the territory to Germany as part of German East Africa, marking the beginning of the colonial era. The explorer Gustav Adolf von Götzen was the first European to significantly explore the country in 1894; he crossed from the south-east to Lake Kivu and met the king. The Germans did not significantly alter the social structure of the country, but exerted influence by supporting the king and the existing hierarchy and delegating power to local chiefs. Belgian forces took control of Rwanda and Burundi in 1916, during World War I, beginning a period of more direct colonial rule.
Miss Earth Rwanda Miss Earth Rwanda The Miss Earth Rwanda is an annual beauty pageant in Rwanda and has been held since 2015. It is responsible for sending Rwanda's representative to the Miss Earth pageant which is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness.<ref name="chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/25/content_385531.htm"></ref> In 2008, Miss Earth created a history when Rwanda sent its first ever Miss Rwanda national winner, Cynthia Akazuba following a month after Rwanda became the first country in history to elect a national legislature in which a majority of members were women in September 2008. Cynthia Akazuba competed in Miss Earth 2008. The franchise was in