Primus

Primus is Rwanda’s most popular beer, although this fact is unrelated to the taste of the beer. Primus celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. It’s 5% alcohol, and the ingredients include the usual water, hops and malt as well as sugar, sorghum and co2. Although you a 33ml bottle is available, the overwhelming choice is the 72cl bottle, which starts at 600rwf (just over $1 – but more upscale or urban bars charge more).

Practically every village in Rwanda has a building painted Primus blue. One of Nyanza’s “blue bars” is pictured below. “Guma guma” means “strong.” The other slogan, Dusangire ubuzima bwiza, means “let’s drink to good health/life.” Ubuzima bwiza, or ubuzima bwacu (our health) – Cheers!