Rwanda Nziza Rwanda Nziza "" (, "Beautiful Rwanda") has been the national anthem of Rwanda since January 1, 2002. It replaced "", which had been the national anthem since 1962. Rwanda's original national anthem, written when the country achieved independence from Belgium in 1962, was called Rwanda Rwacu ("Our Rwanda"). Independence was achieved at a time of high tension, following the Rwandan Revolution: centuries of rule by the minority Tutsi group had been overturned in just three years, the majority Hutu taking power in a violent upheaval, and forcing more than 100,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The subsequent thirty years,
History of Rwanda and division seemed to open the door for colonialism, and in 1897 German colonialists and missionaries arrived in Rwanda. The Rwandans were divided; a portion of the royal court was wary and the other thought the Germans might be a good alternative to dominance by Buganda or the Belgians. Backing their faction in the country a pliant government was soon in place. Rwanda put up less resistance than Burundi did to German rule. In the early years the Germans had little direct control in the region and completely relied on the indigenous government. The Germans did not encourage modernization and