Today, the world is moving fast shifting from analogue to digital. It is against this background that Rwanda has also adapted to emerging technologies whereby oral traditions can be found in different books, online sources or kept through audio-visual records. The oral tradition was most common during the reign of Kings.

Long ago, during the reign of Kings, written literature was not popular. To keep record of all activities happening across kingdoms, oral tradition took center stage.

To this end, all poets rooting from Nyirarumaga said to be the matriarchy of all poets in Rwanda had their works memorized. The tales of then were also memorized and transmitted to generations up to date.

Following the mysterious tale of Nyiransibura, a mythical woman attributed to the creation of Lake Kivu published on IGIHE; today’s attention is drawn on the fairy-tale of Ndaba Rock.

Ndaba Rock is one of Rwanda’s captivating historical and cultural attractions.

Located in 20 kilometers from Karongi town along the road to Muhanga town, the rock bears the name of a man who was abandoned by colleagues over selfishness and gluttony for honey and died helpless at its bottom.

Ndaba Rock is one of Rwanda’s most-visited tourist sites, not just for its features but the mythical stories that surround it. Ndaba’s age remains unknown but one sure thing is that the rock existed long ago.

One day, Ndaba went to harvest honey in a forest accompanied by his friends, as a daily routine.

However, there existed a particular rock that had large quantities of honey and had drawn many people’s attention from the surrounding forest.

As Ndaba continued walking, he sighted a cracked rock that had big honey combs that were dripping with honey.

The man called out for his friends who had moved with him to come and observe what the rock had had for them on the day.

He continued moving closer to the rock trying to investigate what exactly was inside the rock but to his surprise, they were honey combs.

Before harvesting the honey, Ndaba’s friends fastened a long climbing rope around his waist and lowered him at the bottom.

When he got to the bottom of the rock, greed took over him and started filling his stomach with honey using both hands. Being in the midst of honey combs, Ndaba forgot his friends and was not bothered by the bees’ stings.

His friends tried to move their pots downwards for Ndaba to fill them with honey, and in return, he would be pulled out with the pots together. As greed wholly absorbed the man, he literally forgot of his friends and filled his stomach more than he put into the pots as suggested earlier.

As time went on, Ndaba’s friends started feeling unsafe and impatient. They then began calling him. Unfortunately, Ndaba ignored their call until the men filled with wrath pulled their pots and left him at the base of the rock but he did not even realize that his friends had left already. After filling his stomach, he tried to climb back to the top of the rock but its walls were very wet and slippery. The fact that he was very full and heavier than when he descended made his situation much worse.

Ndaba attempted to climb but all his efforts ended in vain and his friends did not come back to his rescue as a punishment for his selfishness and greed. As he attempted to climb the rock, Ndaba fell off the rock and died at the bottom of the rock beside the honeycombs.

From then to the present time, the place is named ‘Ndaba Rock’.

His story teaches local communities and tourists not to be greed as it can only bring trouble.

Apart from its spectacular view of the rock and waterfalls, the place is also suitable for rock climbing and other adventures.

Residents in its surroundings have been taking advantage of the rock to perform traditional songs related to the rock’s history to visitors.

Ndaba Rock and waterfalls offer a spectacular view.

The place is also suitable for rock climbing and other adventures.