Category: Kinyarwanda

A resource for Kinyarwanda learners in English and French

Africa (journal), Journal articles, Kinyarwanda, Published Work, RwandaLeave a comment

Agricultural Reform in Rwanda: authoritarianism, markets and zones of governance

imadahmed

Africa, Volume 88, Issue 4 November 2018 , pp. 896-897 Imaduddin Ahmed Just as Philip Verwimp did in his 2013 book Peasants in Power in relation to the previous Juvénal Habyarimana administration, Chris Huggins applies James Scott’s 1998 authoritarian high modernist state framework to model post-genocide Rwanda. Both authors see authoritarian high modernist states that have achieved a high degree of administrative ordering at the rural level. Both see a prostrate civil society. But where Verwimp additionally applied Wintrobe’s dictatorship models to Habyarimana’s state, Huggins applies Foucauldian governmentality to the new Rwandan state – power is exercised not only through ‘actions’ but … Continue reading Agricultural Reform in Rwanda: authoritarianism, markets and zones of governance

Africa, African Businesses, Financial Times, International Finance, Kinyarwanda, Published Op Eds, Published Work, Rwanda2 Comments

After off-grid electricity, what chance off-grid water?

imadahmed

Financial Times | 31 July, 2017 Innovative solutions bring the prospect of accessible water to the isolated poor By Imaduddin Ahmed   Fifty-one million people lack access to safe water in the core East African Community member states of Tanzania, … Continue reading After off-grid electricity, what chance off-grid water?

Africa, African Businesses, Finance for PPPs & entrepreneurs, Financial Times, International Finance, International finance, International Relations, Kinyarwanda, Policy, Published Op Eds, Published Work, RwandaLeave a comment

Leapfrogging into the light

imadahmed

Financial Times | 27 March, 2017 Solar systems help Rwanda government switch from provider to regulator of electricity by Imaduddin Ahmed Mobile phones were the “leapfrog” … Continue reading Leapfrogging into the light

Finance for PPPs & entrepreneurs, Financial Times, International Finance, Kinyarwanda, Published Features, Published Op Eds, Published Work, RwandaLeave a comment

PPP success in Rwanda shows potential for greater self-reliance

imadahmed

Financial Times Beyond BRICS | 2 April, 2015 New Times | 4 April, 2015 allAfrica | 4 April, 2015 World Bank EIN News Desk | 6 April, 2015 Twenty-one years after its genocide, Rwanda ranks 46th in the world for ease of doing business according to the World Bank, four spots below its former coloniser Belgium. This is flattering. The rush with which international lenders financed its energy utility’s first solar public private partnership (PPP) demonstrates that this ranking is not empty academic musing. Yet, in the same manner in which Rwandans drew on their own internal reserves of strength … Continue reading PPP success in Rwanda shows potential for greater self-reliance

Finance for PPPs & entrepreneurs, International Finance, Kinyarwanda, Published Op Eds, Published Work, Rwanda, The East African1 Comment

Is your local public-private partnership going to be a happy one?

imadahmed

By Imaduddin Ahmed and Shilesh Muralidhara The East African | January 11, 2014 Partnerships can be wonderful. They can also be disastrous. So, too, is this the case with partnerships entered into by governments and businesses for the delivery of public goods, which can either lose countries millions of dollars per project or initiate virtuous economic growth cycles. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are mechanisms in which governments transfer upfront costs and risks for infrastructure projects meeting public needs to private sector developers. Power plants, water treatment facilities, roads, stadia, airports, hospitals — all of these can be given birth under PPPs, … Continue reading Is your local public-private partnership going to be a happy one?

Kinyarwanda, Rwanda4 Comments

Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers

imadahmed

A conversation with a moto-driver at the beginning of a journey may go as follows: You: Yewe! You: Bitte Driver: Sawa You: Ndashaka kujya kuri Nakaumatt, mu mujji Driver: Yego You: Nangahe? Driver: Magana umanani You: Oya, ibi birahenze Driver: Magana atandatu You: Sawa. Ufite amafaranga mato? Driver: Yego You:  Utware bohoro kandi neza You: Hey! You: Hi Driver: Hey You: I’d like to go to the Nakaumatt in town Driver: Sure You: How much? Driver: 800 You: No, that’s too much Driver: 600 You: Okay. Do you have change? Driver: Yes You: Drive slowly and safely attention! (when hailing … Continue reading Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers

Kinyarwanda, Rwanda12 Comments

Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries

imadahmed

greeting for the first time – muraho good morning – mwara mutse hello – mwiriwe have a good day – umunsi mwiza have a good day (16-18h) – umugoroba mwiza good evening – muraramukeho, umugoroba mweza good night – ijoro geza good-bye (to a lot of people) – muririrweho farwell – murabeho go well – urugenda gweza go = genda good weekend – icyumweru cyiza have a good day at work – akazi keza have good weather – mugire ibihe byiza Q: how goes it? – amakuru? A: well  – ni meza Q: abandi baraho? – how are your people? … Continue reading Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries

Kinyarwanda3 Comments

Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website

imadahmed

First of all, welcome to Rwanda! You’ll enjoy the idyllic weather in this beautiful, clean and safe country. If you’re planning on staying here a while, you’ll probably want to learn the native language Kinyarwanda for your own sanity and as a courtesy to the people here who don’t speak English, French or Swahili. Unfortunately, Kinyarwanda is a difficult language to learn. The language has many idiosyncrasies and irregularities – and not just regarding adjectives and verbs. Even nouns, such as numbers, change, depending on context. It’s also difficult finding written resources that can aid your learning. The approach I’ve taken to … Continue reading Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website