Kanyarwanda I Gahima I

Gahima I (also known as Kanyarwanda I, Kayima I, Ghem, Khem, Kakama, Khm, Ham among East Africans is recited by the Rwandan "Abiru" (cultural historians and griots) as one of the primal Mwami, or King of Rwanda supposedly after Gihanga's long reign around the Nile source and beyond. Gahima I is believed to be the general ancestral patriarch of the Tutsi and helped unite them with the Twa and the Hutu groups that all form the indigenous Rwandan society. It is not clear whether his reign took place in the location of modern-day Rwanda as variants of his name exist in other parts of East Africa such as Uganda and Tanzania and Egypt as Kayima and Kham where they claim him as their ancient king. He is also believed to be the Biblical Ham commonly cited as one of the sons of Noah. Gahima's maternal grandfather is orally cited in Rwandan theogony and mythology as Rurenge. A name that signifies an entity with a "Big foot".

Cofusions about the name Gahima

Gahima I is Gahima Kibamba the son of Kazigaba. Gahima I is different from Gahima II the son of Gihanga. Gahima II is the Kanyarwanda while Gahima Kibamba is the Biblical Ham. Gahima II was the successor of King Gihanga.