Rwandan Values and Risky Behaviours in Society
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
Rwandan Values and Risky Behaviours in Society
Lesson 1 of 4
12 min
Gatete is waiting for a bus at Nyabugogo when he sees a brown wallet on the ground. Inside there are 20,000 Frw and an identity card. His friend whispers, "Nobody saw. Keep it!" Gatete thinks of the things he could buy. Then he walks to the bus park office and hands the wallet in. The next day the owner, an old woman from Kamonyi, calls the school to thank him.
What made Gatete choose that? Today you will learn the values that guide a good Rwandan.
Values (indangagaciro) are the good qualities a community treasures and teaches to its children. Taboos (kirazira) are the things Rwandan culture says a person must never do, such as stealing, lying or insulting elders. Values tell us what to do; taboos warn us what not to do.
| Kinyarwanda | English | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Ubumwe | Unity | Playing and working with everyone, without discrimination |
| Gukunda igihugu | Patriotism (love of the country) | Caring for public property; standing still for the national anthem |
| Ubunyangamugayo | Integrity (honesty) | Returning a lost wallet; never cheating in a test |
| Umurimo | Hard work | Finishing your homework; helping at home without being asked |
| Kwihesha agaciro | Dignity and self-reliance | Doing things for yourself and your family with what you have |
| Ubwitange | Selflessness | Giving your time to help others without asking for payment |
| Ubutwari | Courage (heroism) | Standing up for what is right, even when it is hard |
| Kubaha | Respect | Greeting elders politely; listening; respecting people with disabilities |
| Ubupfura | Good manners and noble character | Speaking kindly, keeping promises, behaving well even when no one is watching |
Three of these values form Rwanda's national motto: Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu.
Tip
Values are like the roots of a tree. You cannot see them, but when a storm comes, such as a friend saying "Keep it, nobody saw", they are what keep you standing.
Answer: A value is a good quality we should practise; a taboo is something our culture says we must never do.
Answer: Integrity (ubunyangamugayo).
Answer: Umurimo.
Answer: Selflessness (ubwitange).
Answer: For example: they build trust, keep peace and unity, and help the country develop.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa. No outside source was used.
Quick check
Match each Rwandan value to its English meaning.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
