“My people did not choose to end the monarchy in Rwanda, that was imposed on them by the (Belgians)” is the firm response from the man who ruled Rwanda until 1959. His hands may have slid off the wheel of power that steered this tiny East African country but exiled Rwanda King Kigeli John Baptist Ndahindurwa V maintains a traditional and cultural supremacy in the country. Talk of “A Man of All Seasons” and “The Last Man Standing,” King Kigeli John Baptist Ndahindurwa V will fit in all. The most distinctive aspect in his life is his grandeur to taproot simplicity and love for his country.
Though his shaky deep voice reveals signs of an advanced age, visibly worn by decades of trials and tribulations in exile, the Rwandan king never staggers off his point. If it means extending a hand to the poor, he rests after giving hope to the least fortunate. That explains the detail of incentives in his Washington palace. King Kigeli was awarded the Gold Star by the International Strategic Studies Association for outstanding contributions to Rwandan refugees in Africa. This, he earned, without foregoing his routine at the church. For a noble of his caliber, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda would be working hard to earn honors from him but King Kigeli has instead harvested scores of honors from his toil. An orientation at his office would be like strolling through a compartment of treasures.
All the gold and the silver medals dangle in their majestic imperial and royal orders. To Mr. Kigeli, they are merely tokens of appreciation. But to a person stepping into the dignified lifestyle, the regalia breathe a life of nobility. He ado
