Yuhi III Mazimpaka (scientific orthography: ''Yuhi wa Gatatu Mazimpakâ'') was the Mwami (King) of
kingdom of Rwanda
The Kingdom of Rwanda was a kingdom in East Africa which grew to be ruled by a Tutsi monarchy. It was later annexed under German and Belgian colonial rule while retaining some of its autonomy. The Tutsi monarchy was abolished in 1961 after et ...
from 1735 to 1766.
He is remembered as having been an exceptionally handsome young king. He was a highly intelligent and creative man. He is said to have been a painter with words (''umusizi'')/poet and a prophet. He revealed from his dreams the coming of a pale race of people in many years after his death that would lead to the downfall of his kingdom.
King Yuhi III commissioned a construction of a three storeyed house made of tree trunks, reeds and grass straws at a place known as ''Kamonyi''.
It is thought to have been the first storeyed house ever built in Rwanda.
He suffered occasional mental illness due to his combination of intensive meditations/envisioning and the daily running of the Kingdom.
He died from a leg injury which he sustained from an attempt to dive from a high rock into a lake where he had gone to swim.
[Alexis Kagame. Un abrege de l'ethno histoire du Rwanda.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuhi 03
Kings of Rwanda
1766 deaths