Gihanga

Gihanga descended from a line of gods Ibimanuka kings headed by Kigwa and introduced foundational elements of the African Great Lakes civilization, including fire, cattle, metalworking, hunting, woodworking, and pottery.

[2] It is said that Gihanga ruled Rwanda from his palace in the now forest of Buhanga, an area that retained its forbidden and sacred status through the period of colonialism until the new government of Paul Kagame opened it to the public in 2004.

[6] Legend states that Gihanga was succeeded by a descendant named Gahima I ,[7] who is said to have unified Gatwa, Gahutu and Gatutsi, the ancestors of the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi castes respectively.

These cattle were managed by the Heka family of the Zigaba clan, who lived near the residence of Gihanga and provided the royal court with some of its most respected and powerful ritualists.

Another family of ritualists - the Tega of the Singa clan, similarly drew their prestige from the fact that one of their ancestors, Nyabutege, had reportedly received the principles of the dynastic drum (Kalinga) from Gihanga.