HABYARIMANA
allyGod
Habyarimana is not a distinct deity but one of the praise-names of Imana, the supreme god and creator of the Banyarwanda and the Barundi, in Rwanda and Burundi. Built on the Kinyarwanda verb kubyara, to beget, the name means in substance that it is Imana who brings to birth, who gives children and fecundity to mothers and to fields alike. It belongs to a series of theophoric epithets celebrating the attributes of the one god, beside names such as Rurema, the creator, or Rugira, the one who provides. These praise-names also serve as given names, bestowed on children in homage to God. Care should be taken not to confuse this divine epithet with the very widespread Rwandan surname that derives from it.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Sentinel of the hearth. HABYARIMANA keeps the domestic thresholds where human life is woven. Bound to the Banyarwanda pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of children, embodiment of the power of Habyarimana
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Is Habyarimana a god in his own right?
No. It is a praise-name of Imana, the creator god of the Banyarwanda and the Barundi, and not a distinct deity.
What does the name mean?
Built on the verb to beget, it expresses the idea that it is Imana who brings to birth, who grants children and fecundity.
Why is this name so common as a surname?
Like other Rwandan divine epithets, it is given to children in homage to God, which made it a widespread given name and then family name.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Wikipedia (EN), Imana
- Ethnographie de la religion traditionnelle rwandaise et burundaise, noms de louange d'Imana