Bukunzi

Bukunzi, also known as Mbirizi,^[1] was a small kingdom located in the eastern parts of what is now The Democratic Republic of Congo. The kings of Bukunzi were renowned throughout the region for the legendary control of the rain.^[2] Located east of the Ruzizi River, Bukunzi was founded by members of the Shi royal family and a former territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were divided by the Belgian Congo. Located southeast of Lake Kivu, its historical ties were to the west with Bushi.^[3] Through the eighteenth and nineteenth century, it had close ties to Ngweshe, one of the most powerful of the Shi states.^[4] Bukunzi remained apart from the Democratic Republic of Congo until the military campaign led by colonial Belgium divided it and merged it to Rwanda. This is how the area of the former Bukunzi kingdom is now part of Rusizi District in Rwanda.^[3]