Ikirezi... Rwandan. An old word for "a precious pearl".
In the culture of Rwanda Ikirezi has a subtext that a person being referred to as an "Ikirezi" does not appreciate how valable they are.
Ikirezi is the name of Rwanda's main bookshop established in 1998 and currently located in Kimihurua, Gasabo District,Kigali (www.ikirezi.biz). The cultural value of books is expressed in the heritage of this rwandan expression.Ikirezi Bookshop offers an impressive range of books about the rwanda culture and recent history.
Ikirezi was the name chosen by a widows and orphans cooperative that produces essential oil to fund the economic needs including education, housing of its members.
Ikirezi Natural Product (www.ikirezi.com) is led by Dr Nicholas Hitimana a refugee of the Rwanda genocide in 1994. His wife an child were brought to Scotland in May 1995. The funding was provided by The Charles Bilinda Memorial Trust set up by Lesley Bilinda, possibly the only "white" widow of the genocide. Nicholas subsequently completed a PhD in agriculture at Edinburgh University and returned to Rwanda in 2001.
Ikirezi as a word is at an early stage of development as symbolic of the uniqueness and value of a person in the context of self esteem and personal leadership.
A chorus has been written "Uri Ikirezi Cy' Imana", "You are a precious pearl of God" and is being developed as an international message of encouragement to the human race with regard to each person's potential and purpose in life. The first version of the chorus was organised by Joie-Claire Mukakabera. human resources director of World Relief and can be seen on You Tube and inserting Ikirezi1.