Rwanda’s Flag

Lots of thought goes into a country’s flag.  After all, that simple rectangle known as a flag symbolizes what that country thinks is special, important and unique about it, what distinguishes it from other countries.  Thus, one of the first things I did, upon learning that the Peace Corps was sending me to Rwanda, was to check out Rwanda’s flag and then think about what its flag design said about Rwanda.

My first reaction to Rwanda’s flag was how gloriously bright it is.  Indeed, the flag is not only tri-colored (green, yellow and blue stripes) but also contains a bright gold-yellow sun and rays.  The radiant sun told me that Rwanda is a happy country and that its people are looking forward to a bright and sunny future.  The bottom band of Rwanda’s flag is green, which, according to Wikipedia, represents prosperity.  That makes sense because Rwanda has two rainy seasons and lush verdant mountains and abundant national parkland.  Its fertile soil supports agriculture, with its main exports being coffee (Starbucks is its major purchaser), tea and pyrethrum (a white daisy related to chrysanthemums and used as a natural insecticide).

The middle band on Rwanda’s flag is yellow, which, according to Wikipedia, stands for Rwanda’s potential and economic development.  Indeed, Rwanda has made great strides in economic development this century and its president plans to make it the “Singapore of Africa,” in other words Africa’s financial capital.  With the advances of computers and medical technology of the past decades making the world smaller, I believe that Rwanda’s potential is unlimited.

Rwanda’s flag’s top and widest band (double the width of the lower two bands) is blue, which Wikipedia says represents happiness and peace.  Blue is the color of serenity and calmness, of perfect skies and fair weather.  People cannot be happy without peace in their country.  For a country to place peace and happiness at the top of their flag and in the widest band means a lot.

Finally, Wikipedia says that the sun and rays in the upper right of the flag indicate enlightenment – unquestionably a lofty and esoteric goal.  While most of us readily admit to wanting to be happy and prosperous, few of us also seek the more arduous path of enlightenment, so I was impressed that Rwanda did so in so open a manner as embedding the goal as the centerpiece of their flag.   Now, despite being a yogi, I don’t pretend to know what enlightenment means, but I assume that it refers to a quest for knowledge – spiritual knowledge, as well as the type of knowledge we are most familiar with – education.  In fact, Rwanda has made education a priority, and the Peace Corps has assisted in Rwanda’s education transformation.  I also believe that enlightenment means thoughtfulness, as well as opening more opportunities for women, which Rwanda has done.  According to the United Nations, Rwanda was the first country in the world with more than fifty per cent of its members of Parliament female, and Rwandan women have the same rights as men to inherit property.  Now, that’s enlightenment, and I feel fortunate to be going to such an enlightened place.