The exceptional importance of the Treaty of Kiganda of June 6, 1903 in the history of Burundi can be measured by the memories that this event has imprinted on the memory of Burundians. Between 1967 and 1971, Professors Jean Pierre Chrétien from France and Emile Mworoha from Burundi carried out oral surveys which confirm the exemplary place occupied by this event in popular memory.
“Various versions of the words collected from old Burundians insist on the triumph of Mwezi Gisabo, who took back his country, rebuilt its capitals and witnessed the death of Maconco and Kanugunu as well as the neutralization of Kirima. The oral tradition conveys the invincibility of the Mwami”, underlined Novence Nkeshimana, responsible for the site of the treaty of Kiganda.
If the German aggression with its looting, its deaths, the looting of the royal enclosures and the raid of the cattle, struck the spirit of the old Burundians, they attribute a great role to Maconco and Kirima in the tragedy that Burundi was going through. . We hear, on various occasions, that the Whites came with Maconco and that he was the official informant of the Whites. Some traditions accuse Maconco of wanting to kill the king, but the whites refused, he added.
Mr. Nkeshimana also specified that when Mwezi Gisabo beat a retreat and went to Burunga before the advance of the enemy, collected traditions say that Maconco presented himself as the master of the country. Meanwhile, Kirima took quarters in Bukeye before traveling to Kiganda for the meeting between Whites and Mwezi Gisabo.
The role of the Baganwa in the surrender of Mwezi is a fact on which both the reports of the Germans and the memories of oral traditions agree, namely the role of the Princes as intermediaries as in the return of Mwezi Gisabo to Kiganda. The names of Princes Ntarugera, Rugema, Kijigori, Kabondo, Mayabu as well as Barigono, Maconco’s brother constantly come up.
Triomphe de Mwezi Gisabo au «tribunal»
The negotiations between the Whites and Mwezi Gisabo are seen as a “tribunal” of history pitting the king once morest the Maconco and Kirima rebels. When Mwami Gisabo arrives in Kiganda, the Whites change their minds and take Mwezi’s side according to the former Burundians. Mwezi’s plea will convince Von Beringe (German resident), say the old Burundians because, the king invokes his ancestor Ntare Rushatsi, founder of the kingdom, aligns an impressive number of his princes and his supporters, according to the manager of the said site. .
For Mr. Nkeshimana, the oral tradition shows Mwezi Gisabo in Kiganda talking to Maconco, recognizing him as his son-in-law, but challenging Kirima, considered a stranger. This popular tradition challenges Von Beringe who would have asked Mwezi, whether to kill Kirima because he is a foreigner. No, Mwezi would have replied, “he will perish in his country”. And Mwezi triumphed in the court of Kiganda.
