Alexis Kagame
Encyclopedia
Alexis Kagame was a Rwanda
n philosopher, linguist, historian
, poet
and Catholic priest. His main contributions were in the field of "ethnophilosophy" (the study of indigenous philosophical systems).
As a professor of theology
, he carried out wide research into the oral history, traditions and literature of Rwanda, and wrote several books on the subject, both in French
and Kinyarwanda. He also wrote his own Rwanda poetry, which was also published.
Kagame was also active in the political field, and was seen from the 1940s as the intellectual leader of Tutsi
culture and rights under the colonial system.
class, and also belonging to a group called Abiru, the traditional historians in the court of the Mwami
(king). At the time of his birth, Rwanda was a German
colony, but the Mwami still had considerable power as the colonial authorities ruled indirectly through him. When the area passed to Belgium
, his family converted to Catholicism
. After attending a missionary
school, he studied at Nyakibanda Regional Seminary
and was ordained a priest in 1941. During this time, he was also the editor of a Catholic newspaper. In 1950, he became the first African to gain membership in the Institut Royal Colonial Belge (later called the Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer).
A turning point came in 1952, when he wrote Le Code des Institutions Polititiques de Rwanda (in support of his friend King Mutara III
), which was a defense of the Tutsi feudal system. The colonial regime found this disturbing and pressured his bishop into reposting him to Rome. While there, he studied at the Gregorian University and took his doctoral degree in philosophy. He also became a member of "Les Prêtres Noirs", a group of Theology
students who wanted to employ Christianity as a basis for African nationalist aspirations.
After returning to Rwanda in 1958 he became a teacher at the Catholic seminary and a prominent member of the independence movement which, despite his identification with the Tutsi monarchy, may have saved him during the Hutu
uprising in 1959. He later became one of the first professors at the new University of Rwanda (1963) and visiting professor at the University of Lubumbashi
. Following Rwandan independence, he became a strong advocate for the Africanization
of Christianity, maintaining that missionary attitudes were still prevalent.
He died in 1981, while on a visit to Nairobi
.
. Kagame studies portrayed a pre-colonial Rwandese society in which ubuhake
cattle clientship created a harmonious society that allows easy social mobility. He eventually partnered with Belgian anthropologist Jacques Maquet, who reworked Kagame's thesis into highly influential academic works. Subsequent academic research largely disproved the Kagame-Maquet depiction of an idyllic pre-colonial society by taking into account the degrading uburetwa land contract. Uburetwa was largely ignored by Maquet, whose research relied upon Kagame's manuscripts. Kagame's depiction of an stable, socially progressive nation, as well as his maps showing expansive territorial influence, were used by the Rwandan Patriotic Front
in the late 1990s to justify their rule and invasion of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
In these works, Kagame attempts to demonstrate that the structure of the Bantu languages reveals a complex ontology
that is uniquely African in nature. Critics charge that he is imposing Aristotelian
concepts on something that is non-logical. In other words, that language structure was not consciously designed but, rather, developed randomly over a long period and therefore is the cause, not the effect, of the way people think.
He also wrote several books of poetry and translated the Bible
into the Kinyarwanda language.
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n philosopher, linguist, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and Catholic priest. His main contributions were in the field of "ethnophilosophy" (the study of indigenous philosophical systems).
As a professor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, he carried out wide research into the oral history, traditions and literature of Rwanda, and wrote several books on the subject, both in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Kinyarwanda. He also wrote his own Rwanda poetry, which was also published.
Kagame was also active in the political field, and was seen from the 1940s as the intellectual leader of Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
culture and rights under the colonial system.
Life
Kagame was born in Kiyanza, Rwanda, to a long line of court historians. His family had high status in the kingdom of Rwanda, being of the ruling TutsiTutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
class, and also belonging to a group called Abiru, the traditional historians in the court of the Mwami
Mwami
Mwami is the chiefly title in Kirundi and Kinyarwanda, the Congolese Nande and Bashi languages, Luhya in Kenya and various other Bantu languages, such as the Tonga language . The word is usually translated as king...
(king). At the time of his birth, Rwanda was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
colony, but the Mwami still had considerable power as the colonial authorities ruled indirectly through him. When the area passed to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, his family converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. After attending a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
school, he studied at Nyakibanda Regional Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and was ordained a priest in 1941. During this time, he was also the editor of a Catholic newspaper. In 1950, he became the first African to gain membership in the Institut Royal Colonial Belge (later called the Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer).
A turning point came in 1952, when he wrote Le Code des Institutions Polititiques de Rwanda (in support of his friend King Mutara III
Mutara III of Rwanda
Mutara III was the Mwami, or monarch of Rwanda between 1931 and 1959. As a member of the Tutsi people in Rwanda, stereotyped as tall, he stood a symbolic 6'8" tall...
), which was a defense of the Tutsi feudal system. The colonial regime found this disturbing and pressured his bishop into reposting him to Rome. While there, he studied at the Gregorian University and took his doctoral degree in philosophy. He also became a member of "Les Prêtres Noirs", a group of Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
students who wanted to employ Christianity as a basis for African nationalist aspirations.
After returning to Rwanda in 1958 he became a teacher at the Catholic seminary and a prominent member of the independence movement which, despite his identification with the Tutsi monarchy, may have saved him during the Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
uprising in 1959. He later became one of the first professors at the new University of Rwanda (1963) and visiting professor at the University of Lubumbashi
University of Lubumbashi
The University of Lubumbashi is one of the largest universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in Lubumbashi, the capital city of Katanga province....
. Following Rwandan independence, he became a strong advocate for the Africanization
Africanization
Africanization or Africanisation has been applied in various contexts, notably in naming and in the composition of staff.-Africanization of names:...
of Christianity, maintaining that missionary attitudes were still prevalent.
He died in 1981, while on a visit to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
Political
According to Claudine Vidal, Kagame's overarching goal was the creation of a constitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. Kagame studies portrayed a pre-colonial Rwandese society in which ubuhake
Ubuhake
Ubuhake is the name given to the social order in Rwanda and Burundi from approximately the 15th century to 1958. It has been frequently compared to European feudalism. Based on cattle distribution, it was, however, a much smaller system than the one of uburetwa, which affected a much larger...
cattle clientship created a harmonious society that allows easy social mobility. He eventually partnered with Belgian anthropologist Jacques Maquet, who reworked Kagame's thesis into highly influential academic works. Subsequent academic research largely disproved the Kagame-Maquet depiction of an idyllic pre-colonial society by taking into account the degrading uburetwa land contract. Uburetwa was largely ignored by Maquet, whose research relied upon Kagame's manuscripts. Kagame's depiction of an stable, socially progressive nation, as well as his maps showing expansive territorial influence, were used by the Rwandan Patriotic Front
Rwandan Patriotic Front
The Rwandan Patriotic Front abbreviated as RPF is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. It governs in a coalition with other parties...
in the late 1990s to justify their rule and invasion of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
Linguistic
His international linguistic reputation rests mainly on two works:- La Philosophie Bantu-Rwandaise de l'Être (1956): an analysis of the Kinyarwanda languageKinyarwanda languageKinyarwanda , is a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language spoken by some 12 million people in Rwanda, where it is the official language, and adjacent parts of southern Uganda...
and culture as it relates to their concept of "BeingBeingBeing , is an English word used for conceptualizing subjective and objective aspects of reality, including those fundamental to the self —related to and somewhat interchangeable with terms like "existence" and "living".In its objective usage —as in "a being," or "[a] human being" —it...
". and, - La Philosophie Bantu Comparée (1976): A broader study including all the Bantu languagesBantu languagesThe Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...
.
In these works, Kagame attempts to demonstrate that the structure of the Bantu languages reveals a complex ontology
Ontology
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations...
that is uniquely African in nature. Critics charge that he is imposing Aristotelian
Aristotelianism
Aristotelianism is a tradition of philosophy that takes its defining inspiration from the work of Aristotle. The works of Aristotle were initially defended by the members of the Peripatetic school, and, later on, by the Neoplatonists, who produced many commentaries on Aristotle's writings...
concepts on something that is non-logical. In other words, that language structure was not consciously designed but, rather, developed randomly over a long period and therefore is the cause, not the effect, of the way people think.
Other works
- Un Abrégé de l’Ethno-histoire du Rwanda. Butare, Éditions Universitaires du Rwanda, 1972-75. 2 volumes
- Introduction aux Grands Genres Lyriques de l’Ancien Rwanda. Butare, Éditions Universitaires du Rwanda, 1969
- Les Milices du Rwanda Précolonial. Brussels, 1963
He also wrote several books of poetry and translated the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
into the Kinyarwanda language.
See also
- African philosophyAfrican philosophyAfrican philosophy is used in different ways by different philosophers. Although African philosophers spend their time doing work in many different areas, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy, a great deal of the literature is taken up with a debate...
- Placide TempelsPlacide TempelsPlacide Frans Tempels was a Belgian missionary who became famous for his book Bantu Philosophy.-Life:...
- Linguistic relativityLinguistic relativityThe principle of linguistic relativity holds that the structure of a language affects the ways in which its speakers are able to conceptualize their world, i.e. their world view...