Rwanda people and culture, Traditions and Practices

The Hutu also known as the Abahutu, are a Bantu ethnic or social group native to the African Great Lakes region of Africa, primarily area now under Burundi and Rwanda. They mainly live in Rwanda, Burundi, and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they form one of the principal population divisions alongside the Tutsi and the Twa. The Hutu contribute the largest population in Rwanda with over 84%.

The Hutu are believed to have first emigrated to the Great Lake region from West Africa in the great Bantu expansion. Various theories have emerged to explain the purported physical differences between them and their fellow Bantu-speaking neighbors, the Tutsi. One such thesis, largely based on oral tradition, posits that the Tutsi experienced some admixture with or were partially descended from migrants of East African stock, who usually were said to have arrived in the Great Lakes region from the Horn of Africa

Historically, Rwanda’s three ethnic groups have been identified with distinct aspects of the economy: the Tutsi with cattle, the Hutu with the land, and Twa with the forests. Each group had distinct roles in public rituals, and each group had a distinctive mode of dress. The monarchy served as an important unifying symbol, representing the interest of all three ethnic groups. Hutu and Tutsi were also linked together throughout much of the territory in a system of cattle vassalage, in which Tutsi patrons provided cattle to Hutu clients. During the colonial period, however, the monarchy lost much of its legitimacy as it became increasingly identified with the Tutsi minority, and the system of cattle vassalage became viewed as a system of exploitation of Hutu by Tutsi. The cattle vassalage system was abolished in the 1950s and Hutu politicians deposed the king in 1961 but ever since the Tutsi retook power in 1994, historic symbols such as cattle have been revived, and a strong political faction has called for the reinstallation of the monarchy as a means of reunifying the country’s ethnic groups.

Rwanda poeple are deeply blessed with artistic and creative skills of crafts making and a visit to rwanda will glance your eyes on souvenirs made by the local Rwandan people like clay pots, woven papyrus mats and baskets, jewelry, art pictorials, wood carvings and many others. Rwanda today has many art and craft villages in both urban and remote areas where any tourist on Rwanda safari or tour can easily buy souvenirs or any preferred art pieces.

The common craft villages include Ivuka art center, Rwanda Nziza, Caplaki craft village among others. All the crafts in Rwanda are produced country wide and each region is well known for its special and unique crafts. The south eastern part is for example famous for its Imigongo- a mixture of cow dung and various natural colored soils painted into decorative folds to make various shapes and designs.

Tutsi, also called Batusi, Tussi, Watusi, or Watutsi, is ethnic group of probable Nilotic origin, whose members live within Rwanda and Burundi. The Tutsi form about 15% of the population currently. The Tutsis’ numbers in Rwanda were greatly reduced by a government-inspired genocidal campaign against them in 1994. The Tutsi adopted the mutually intelligible Bantu languages Rwanda and Rundi, which were originally spoken by the Hutu.

The Tutsi first penetrated the area in the 14th or 15th century, entering from the northeast seeking new rangelands. Though they were skilled warriors, they obtained dominance over the resident Hutu through a slow and largely peaceful infiltration. The Tutsi established a feudal relationship with the Hutu, gaining dominance due to their possession of cattle and their more advanced knowledge of warfare. At the head of the Tutsis’ complex hierarchical political structure was the mwami (“king”), who was considered to be of divine origin.

The Twa people (or Batwa) are considered to be the forgotten victims of the Rwandan war and genocide; their suffering has gone largely unrecognised. Twa claim to be the original inhabitants of Rwanda, being related to other forest peoples of Central Africa and this is justifiable since they not readily distinguishable from their compatriots, whose language and religious beliefs they share.

The Twa maintain a rich and distinctive cultural tradition centred on songs, dance and music. Of the 33,000 Rwandan Twa in an estimated 600 households, as estimated by CUARWA in 2004, none are thought to maintain a traditional existence as forest-dwellers. Twa are dispersed throughout the country in small groups. Most work as potters, though others earn a living as day labourers or porters. Almost none own land or cattle. There are a number of other Twa populations in the Congo forest and South Western Uganda’s Bwindi and mgahinga highlands as well.

Music, dance and drama play a great role in the traditions of Rwandan people. Performances range from destinations of bravery and excellence, to humorous dance styles and lyrics, to artistry based in traditional agricultural roots. Traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary lulunga-a harp-like instrument with eight strings. More festival dances are backed by a drum orchestra, which typically comprises seven to nine members who collectively produce a hypnotic and exciting explosion set of intertwining rhythms.

Live dance performances can be seen at the Iby’ Iwacu cultural village in Musanze or at the National Museum of Rwanda. The finest display of Rwanda varied dynamic traditional music and dance styles are performed by the Itore Dance Troupes (pictured left). Founded several countries ago, the Itore –literally meaning “the chosen ones” their exciting act can be arranged at short notice through the National Museum in Huye. A more modern form of Rwandan music is the upbeat and harmonious devotional singing that can be heard in any church service around the country.