The Lineage of Ntwero: A New Reading of Burundi’s Origins by Apostle Bernard Ntungwanayo
Published on July 28, 2025
The ancient history of Burundi, often transmitted through a complex oral tradition, still holds many secrets. In a move toward historical clarification, Apostle Bernard Ntungwanayo offers a bold rereading of the origins of certain royal lineages, based on in-depth research. His analysis highlights a central but little-known figure, Ntwero, and traces his genealogy to offer a new perspective on the formation of ancient Burundi.
The Distant Origins: From Gihanga to Karemera
According to the research of Apostle Bernard Ntungwanayo, the genealogy of Ntwero finds its source at the very heart of Rwanda’s founding myths. He establishes the lineage as follows:
- Gihanga: The mythical founder of the Kingdom of Rwanda, the starting point of royal legitimacy.
- Kanyarwanda, Musindi, Ndahiro, Ndoba, Nyamuhanzi, Sinzi: A succession of sovereigns who ensure the continuity of power.
This lineage leads to Mashira, king of Gasabo in the early 15th century, under whose reign a pivotal event occurs.
Karemera: The Rupture and the Founding of a New Kingdom
Apostle Ntungwanayo highlights a historical turning point: the flight of Karemera, a member of this royal family, who leaves Rwanda around 1410. This exile is not an end, but the beginning of a new epic.
Arriving in the region that would become Burundi, Karemera established himself as a conqueror. Apostle Ntungwanayo recounts the symbolic story of his victory over a lion near the Kanyaru River, a founding act that leads to the creation of his own kingdom: “Ingoma y’INTARE” (the Kingdom of the Lion). His conquests extend over the northwest of present-day Burundi (Kayanza, Cibitoke, Bubanza, Muramvya), attracting other families seeking new lands.
Ntwero: The Heir of a Vision
It is in this context that Apostle Ntungwanayo’s analysis places the descendants of Karemera. The tradition, as he presents it, reports the names of his sons: Ntwero, Musine, Gatamba, Sebikara, Ruremesha, Rugemintwaza, and Sentama.
Among them, Ntwero is highlighted. As the son of Karemera, he is not just the heir of a conqueror, but the repository of a long tradition of leadership and strategy. His story, as revealed by this research, illustrates how a lineage born from crisis was able to reinvent itself to found a lasting power.
Conclusion: The Perspective of Apostle Bernard Ntungwanayo
In conclusion, the analysis offered by Apostle Bernard Ntungwanayo provides a significant contribution to the history of Burundi. By tracing Ntwero’s genealogy back to its most distant origins, he does not merely tell the story of one man, but that of a lineage that knew how to turn exile into an opportunity and conquest into a kingdom. This reading of events highlights the importance of migrations, inter-regional power dynamics, and the construction of legitimacy in the formation of ancient Burundi, thus offering a “hidden face” of history that deserves to be known and debated.