Rwanda rwacu, Rwanda gihugu cyambyaye,

Ndakuratan'ishyaka n'ubutwali.

Iyo nibuts'ibi gwi wagize kugez'ubu,

nshimira Abarwanashyaka bazanye Repubulika idahinyuka.

Bavandimwe b'u ru Rwanda rwacu twese nimuhaguruke:

Turubumbatire mu mahoro, mukuli, mu bwigenge no mu bwumvikane.

Impundu ni zivuge mu Rwandahose:

Republika yaku y'ubuhake,

Ubukolonize bwagiye nk'ifun'iheze.

Shing' umuzi Demokarasi

Waduhaye kwitorera abategetsi.

Banyarwanda: abakuru

Namw'abato mwizihiy'u Rwanda:

Turubumbatire mu mahoro, mu kuli,

Mu bwigenge no mu bwumvikane.

Bavuka Rwandamwese muvuz'impundu,

Demokarasi yarwo iraganje.

Twayiharaniye rwose twes'uko tungana.

Gatutsi, Gatwa na gahutu

Namwe banyarwanda bandi mwabyiyemeje,

Indepandansi twatsindiye

Twese hamwe tuyishyikire:

Turubumbatire mu mahoro, mu kuli,

Mu bwigenge no mu bwumvikane.

Nimucyo dusingiz'Ibendera ryacu.

Arakabaho na Prezida wacu.

Barakabahw' abaturage b'iki Gihugu.

Intego yacu Banyarwanda

Twishyire kandi twizane mu Rwanda rwacu.

Twese hamwe, twung'ubumwe

Nta mususu duter'imbere ko:

Turubumbatire mu mahoro, mu kuli,

Mu bwigenge no mu bwumvikane.

TRANSLATION

My Rwanda, land that gave me birth,

Fearlessly, tirelessly, I boast of you!

When I recall your achievements to this very day,

I praise the pioneers who have brought in our unshakeable Republic.

Brothers all, sons of this Rwanda of ours,

Come, rise up all of you,

Let us cherish her in peace and in truth,

In freedom and in harmony!

Let the victory drums beat throughout all Rwanda!

The Republic has swept away feudal bondage.

Colonialism has faded away like a worn-out shoe.

Democracy, take root!

Through you we have chosen our own rulers.

People of Rwanda, old and young, citizens all,

Let us cherish her in peace and in truth,

In freedom and in harmony!

Home-born Rwandans all, beat the victory drums!

Democracy has triumphed in our land.

All of us together we have striven for it arduously.

Together we have decreed it- Tutsi, Twa, Hutu, with other racial elements,

This hard-won Independence of ours,

Let us all join to build it up!

Let us cherish it in peace and in truth,

In freedom and in harmony!

Come let us extol our Flag!

Long live our President, long live the citizens of our land!

Let this be our aim, people of Rwanda:

To stand on our own feet, in our own right, by our own means.

Let us promote unity and banish fear.

Let us go forward together in Rwanda.

Let us cherish her in peace and in truth,

In freedom and in harmony!

Adopted in 1962

Words by an old Rwandan Folk