Every year on August 15, thousands flock to Kibeho in South Rwanda to experience the site where the Virgin Marry appeared. It is the only such place in the entire Africa
Thirteen years before the 1994 genocide that swept across Rwanda and left more than a million people dead, the Virgin Mary appeared to three young girls in the remote village of Kibeho located in Southern Rwanda.
Through these visionaries, Mary warned of the looming holocaust, which they assured could be averted if Rwandans opened their hearts to God and embraced His love.
After the genocide, and two decades of rigorous investigation, Our Lady of Kibeho became the first and only Vatican-approved Marian site in all of Africa. Kibeho has since grown into a pilgrimage site of choice for tens of thousands of faithfuls seeking redemption and cure from illness.
“My legs had been aching and I could hardly walk – so I came here [Kibeho] to seek God’s mercy,” said 40-year-old Générose Ntunzwenimana from Burundi, who was among thousands camped at the shrine ahead of Assumption Day, August 15.
“And it is incredible because I spent the night well, and I am getting better and better. It’s amazing.”
A Spanish book about Kibeho
Much like what happened at similar sites such as Fátima shrine in Portugal and Lourdes in France, the messengers of Kibeho were at first mocked and disbelieved. But as miracle after miracle occurred in the tiny village, tens of thousands of Rwandans journeyed to Kibeho to behold the apparitions.
For years, countless onlookers watched as the Mother and Son of God spoke through the eight seers about God’s love, sending messages that they insisted were meant not only for Rwandans, but for the entire world, to hear.
Various authors have taken inspiration after their pilgrimages to Kibeho. On shelves across Spain, you will find the book: “Nuestra Senora de Kibeho: Unmensaje del cielo al mundodesde el corazon de Africa” by Immaculée Ilibagiza. She made many pilgrimages to Kibeho both before and after the holocaust, personally witnessed true miracles, and spoke with a number of the visionaries themselves. What she has discovered will deeply touch your heart.
In July 2013, Indian pilgrims from Goa came to the site to pray and worship. Goa, an erstwhile Portuguese colony, was taken over by India in December 1961 through annexation, but has retained until today its largely Christian orientation.
Israel’s Jerusalem and Nazareth
However, there’s a growing business side to Kibeho’s main story of being a pilgrimage site, too. And it seems to be drawing much attention from the Rwandan government.
The sites are developing to the level of Israel’s Jerusalem and Nazareth, the two biblical cities with a flourishing religion-based tourism. Despite its rural nature, there is electricity and infrastructure facilities like hotels (Kibeho now has a couple of church-affiliated mini hotels), a paved road, shops selling craft, religious tools like chaplets, dotting this place.
Tour business has been heading to Kibeho. Seventh Wave Leisure Ltd, an Indian tour operator established in Rwanda, caters for visitors from different countries, organizing tours to Kibeho and other Rwandan sites on offer; the gorillas and historical sites.
A visit to Kibeho will not only enrich your personal life, but will also make a difference to the communities around the shrine.
Rwanda is most secure country
The faithful carry along anything they can afford to offer up as a thank you gesture for God’s support all through their life
The changing business atmosphere at Kibeho is confirmed by Jean de DieuNdabunguye, a 27-year-old motorcyclist, who said that his life has been changing ever since apparitions were reported at Kibeho.“I earn at least Rwf 8,000 [about $13] a day”, he said, thanks to the tourists influx.
“Look over there,” he said, pointing to other side of the road, “there are now buses that ply this route every hour,” he added, super confident, as he parked alongside a dozen of his colleagues.
Even when there was genocide in Rwanda, and it is located in a volatile region, Rwanda is extremely secure and stable. Worldwide research published by US-based Gallup Groupin October 2012 shows that Rwanda is the only African country where citizens feel extremely safe.
Another separate global survey released a month earlier, also by Gallup, showed that women in Rwanda feel more safe and protected compared to many developed countries.
The survey listed the countries in which women are most likely to feel secure walking alone at night which include Georgia (90%), Rwanda (89%) and Singapore (88%) – in descending order.