Compte-rendu: Atlas du Rwanda

Summary

This review discusses the Atlas du Rwanda, published in 1981 and prepared by the National University of Rwanda, which comprehensively presents the geography and history of this small Central African country through 32 maps and commentaries. Beyond its rich geographical coverage (physical, human, and economic), the atlas notably emphasizes the historical dimension: four maps are devoted to the formation of the Rwandan kingdom since approximately 1312, the administrative divisions of 1896, and the routes of early European explorers. Three further maps by B. Lugan cover pre-colonial trade flows, the German and Belgian colonial administrations, and the development of the Catholic Church from 1900 to 1976. Historical elements also appear in maps of population density, religious implantation, and urban growth, particularly of Kigali. The reviewer concludes that the atlas successfully integrates the essence of Rwandan history with high-quality cartography, making it a remarkable reference work in all respects.