Nkombo Island: Where Rwanda and Congo Say ‘I Do’

Perhaps no place in Rwanda better demonstrates the enduring ties it shares with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) than Nkombo island. A fascinating detour from the Congo Nile Trail, the island is also becoming a destination for couples who wish to tie the nuptial knot.

‌Nkombo’s clean, sandy beaches and resorts like Marchal Nkombo Beach, Nkombo Guest House and GS Saint Pierre represent quite a draw. But it is not just the presence of modern amenities and Nkombo’s exclusivity that is luring travellers!

The island boasts a distinction. Nkombo has its own language, separate from Kinyarwanda spoken on the mainland. It’s approximately 18,000 people use Amahavu, a language closer to what’s spoken across the lake in the DRC. In fact, on the Congolese island of Ijwi, the mother tongue is Amashi, which is strikingly similar to Amahavu.

‌The traditions on Nkombo are unique too, making it a real cultural island within Rwanda! While on the mainland the most popular traditional dances are Intore and Umushayayo (women gracefully waving their hands to imitate cow horns), Nkombo has an entirely different one: Gusama that you can admire when you visit. It celebrates the island’s unique history and is normally demonstrated by experts called Abasamyi ba Nkombo.

The 23 square kilometre (9 square mile) Nkombo island is located in Rusizi district and has a very interesting neighbour.

Just next door is Gihaya Island, home to expert fishermen and fisherwomen! While men on most islands fish using massive triple-hulled boats, the women of Gihaya do it differently. They take to the lake in single canoes with lighter nets — ones they can haul in themselves, even when the catch is heavy.

It’s an unforgettable sight: women gliding across the water, calling to one another, laughing, working, and feeding their families, all on their own terms. A treat to behold for any visitor.

text by David Jack Tumusiime; photos by Emmanuel Niyonkuru, Apple Maps & Cedric Hirwa