How to Pronounce Grégoire Kayibanda

Meaning and Context

Grégoire Kayibanda, born on May 1, 1924, was the inaugural President of the Republic of Rwanda, serving from its independence on July 1, 1962, until he was overthrown in a military coup in July 1973. A former seminarian and teacher, Kayibanda emerged as a pivotal nationalist leader, founding the PARMEHUTU (Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement), which became the dominant political force in post-colonial Rwanda. His presidency was defined by the consolidation of the 1959 Rwandan Revolution, a profound social and political upheaval that ended Tutsi monarchical rule and established a Hutu-led republic. Kayibanda's tenure, however, remains deeply controversial and is inextricably linked to the ethnic tensions between Hutu and Tutsi communities; his government implemented discriminatory policies and was marred by periodic anti-Tutsi pogroms, notably in 1963 and 1973, which set a tragic precedent for later violence. His rule concluded with his overthrow by his former ally, Major General Juvénal Habyarimana, after which Kayibanda was imprisoned and died under mysterious circumstances in December 1976, leaving a complex legacy as a founding father and a figure central to Rwanda's fraught post-independence history.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is Grégoire Kayibanda. Common variations and errors often arise from the diacritical marks in his first name and the phonetic spelling of his last name. The first name is frequently misspelled as "Gregoire" (omitting the acute accent on the 'e'), which is a significant error in proper French orthography. For the surname, common misspellings include "Kayibanda" (adding an extra 'i'), "Kayibanda" (substituting 'y' for 'i'), or "Kiyabanda" (a complete phonetic respelling). In some historical documents, one might encounter the abbreviated form "G. Kayibanda." It is also important to note the correct capitalization: both the first and last name should be capitalized, with the accent preserved.

Example Sentences

Grégoire Kayibanda's political philosophy was articulated in his seminal 1957 manifesto, "The Hutu Manifesto," which critiqued the existing social order under the Tutsi monarchy.

Historians often debate whether the ethnic policies of Kayibanda's PARMEHUTU government directly paved the way for the later genocide.

Following independence, President Grégoire Kayibanda established Kigali as the nation's capital, moving it from the traditional royal seat in Nyanza.

The coup that ousted Kayibanda in 1973 was led by Juvénal Habyarimana, who accused the president of fostering regionalism and failing to quell ethnic violence.

Today, Kayibanda's grave in an unmarked location serves as a somber symbol of his tumultuous and ultimately tragic role in Rwandan history.

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