Ikawa yageze muRwanda ahagana mu mwaka wa 1900, ariko ubushakashatsi kuri iki gihingwa bwatangiye mu mwaka 1930 ubwo hageragezwaga imbuto zitandukanye z’ikawa zivuye muri Mulungu (Repubulika Iharanira Demokarasi ya Kongo).
Ikawa ubu ifata umwanya wa kabiri mu bihingwa nyuma y’icyayi mu kwinjiza amadovize ariko ihura n’ibibazo by’ibyonnyi n’indwara, uburyo bwo guhinga budatunganye n’imbuto zidafite umusaruro uhagije.
Kunywa ikawa bigira rukuruzi yo guterakanseri yo mu ruhago, yo mu mabere, cyangwa ibiturugunyu (tumeur) ni utubyimba tubanziriza kanseri.