Rwanda: Order of the Grand Lakes

[Megan]

Grand Officer Star

[Megan]

Commander

[IVB]

Very interesting, Megan.

Have you any information about this Order?

[Megan]

Unfortunately not... don't even know the ribbon colours.

Even the information on Rwandan Orders in the Guy Stair Sainty & Rafal Heydel-Mankoo book World Orders of Knighthood and Merit is very sketchy, & this order isn't mentioned at all.

[Paul R]

Is the second illustration in real gold? I really like the enamelling on these. Any clue as to where they were made?

[922F]

The series of Rwandan decorations this example of the Order of the Grand Lakes belongs to were primarily made in Belgium. Reportedly, following somewhat problematical intrapersonal relations at the manufacturing firm and the usual Rwandan govt inability to "pay up", decorations came onto the market. These pieces are almost always gilded or silvered base metal with 1990s type enamel or epoxy work that may "pop" off in severe climatic or pressure changes. {An important factor as consignments delivered from winter Belgium to elevated but tropical Kigali experienced radical temperature and air pressure change, not only during the delivery flights.} While insignia design appears innovative and attractive, the execution is a little disappointing with the badges for varying grades generally all the same size {so the higher grades' badges look disproportionally small} and the stars quite heavy. Some stars have a reverse medallion that bears the Rwanda coat-of-arms, some do not. Badges seen to date are uniface though one or two also have the national coat-of-arms medallion applied to the reverse. Ribbons display various combinations of the former Rwandan national colors red, green, yellow, dark blue, and black. {The Order of Peace, for example uses a yellow and blue ribbon.}

On October 25, 2001, the national colors were changed to light blue, gold (yellow) and green and a newly designed flag officially hoisted. {This, in part, to help dispell bad feelings stemming for the mid-1990s genocide.} Perhaps the national awards system was changed at that time as well.

Several Belgian specialists have quite interesting information on these awards--perhaps they will join in the discussion?