MARIAN APPARITION AT KIBEHO

 

Marian apparitions at Kibeho
Marian apparitions at Kibeho

By Edward Matulanya 

Historical Context

The Marian apparitions at Kibeho began on November 28, 1981, in the small village of Kibeho, Rwanda. The first visionary was a young student named Alphonsine Mumureke, later joined by Nathalie Mukamazimpaka and Marie Claire Mukangango. These events took place in a Catholic school setting and initially received skepticism from peers, teachers, and clergy (Catholic News Agency, 2021).

Description of the Apparitions and Messages

The Virgin Mary identified herself as Nyina wa Jambo, meaning “Mother of the Word” in Kinyarwanda (University of Dayton, n.d.). The visionaries reported that she urged prayer, repentance, and devotion, particularly through the Rosary and the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows (Relevant Radio, 2022). The apparitions were notable for their apocalyptic imagery: visions of rivers of blood, decapitated heads, and mass suffering. These warnings are often interpreted as a foreshadowing of the 1994 Rwandan genocide (Discover Rwanda, n.d.).

Church Investigation and Recognition

The Catholic Church conducted a long investigation into the visions. On June 29, 2001, Bishop Augustin Misago officially declared the apparitions of Alphonsine, Nathalie, and Marie Claire to be authentic, making them the only Vatican-approved Marian apparitions in Africa (University of Dayton, n.d.; Wikipedia, 2025).

Aftermath and Impact

The apparitions inspired widespread devotion and spiritual renewal, particularly focusing on repentance, reconciliation, and the need for conversion. The Shrine of Our Lady of Kibeho, also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, has become a pilgrimage destination for Catholics worldwide, especially on the anniversary of the apparitions each November 28 (Catholic News Agency, 2021).

References 

Catholic News Agency. (2021, July 19). Meet Our Lady of Kibeho: The only approved Marian apparition in Africa. Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248419/meet-our-lady-of-kibeho-the-only-approved-marian-apparition-in-africa

Discover Rwanda. (n.d.). Kibeho - The place of Marian apparitions. Discover Rwanda. https://www.discoverrwanda.net/places/kibeho/

University of Dayton. (n.d.). Our Lady of Kibeho Jubilee. University of Dayton. https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/k/kibeho-jubilee.php

Wikipedia. (2025). Our Lady of Kibeho. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Kibeho

Relevant Radio. (2022, November 28). Our Lady of Kibeho. Relevant Radio. https://relevantradio.com/2022/11/our-lady-of-kibeho-2/

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