Rwanda is the land locked East African country with the population of 11.78 million, the main ethnic groups in Rwanda are Hutu who take over 85% of the whole population, Tutsi 14% and Twa 1%. Rwanda joined the East Africa Community (EAC) on the 1st of july,2007.

TUTSI

LANGUAGE

The 14% of Rwanda’s population are Tutsi, this tribe originates from the hima(tutsi-hima) where the hima are considered to be the sub-group of the Tutsi, generally in Rwanda they are Tutsi. Few number of tutsi can be found in Burundi and the democratic of Congo, history says Tutsi were cattle herders lending cattle to the Hutus. The Tutsi speak the common language of the Rwandese which is “Kinyarwanda” in Rwanda and “Kirundi” in Burundi and the official language French. The tutsi who were slaves in Uganda speak English and small number of the tutsi also speak Swahili the language of the East Africa most spoken in Tanzania and Kenya.

BELIEFS

There is this custom for the Tutsi that they have to know the name of their ancestors six generation back, they believe they are the descended from the king named Gihanga. The Tutsi have the traditional belief in the creator(according to the believes of the Tutsi) called Imaana, the power of this king can be shared via sacred fire, royal drums, rituals and the spirit of the dead called “abazima” . People who disrespect the abazima are striked with bad luck. Tutsi people also believe in spirit wishes. But today Christianity Is the main religion of the Tutsi.

HOMES

Tutsi build their traditional house with huts of wood, reeds and straw, which are held by hedges that serves as fences. But they also build modern houses with western style and building materials.

TUTSI’S RHYTHM….

In the early years dancing groups and drummers performed for the king, two dozen tall drums were placed around a central drum. The drummers moved around the drums in a circle. Each one took a turn beating the central drum. This style of drumming is still practiced. Dancing is also way of celebrating different occasions for the Tutsi such as weddings.

FOOD

 Milk, butter, and meat are the most highly valued foods. Eating Goat meat and drinking goat milk is against the Tutsi’s customs (no specific reason found). Bananas and Sorghums are used to produce alcoholic beverages where people drink occasionally. And this will look like a tip, Tutsi have the tradition of not eating in public, although this tradition is diminishing.

In important occasions full meals are never served, people are normally served a piece of meat and something else to eat such as roasted potato. A pot of sorghum is placed in the center of the room with numerous reed straws. Calabashes of the banana beer are passed through the crowd.

CLOTHS

The traditional dresses for Tutsi are white robes and white headbands for women, and white robes only for men. But today Tutsi people wear the western cloths. Despite the western cloths Tutsi still wear their traditional cloths on special events such as weddings and funerals or any other special event.

JUST IN CASE

Behind civil wars which are either worthy or unworthy(that we mark as a history today), there is life of the banywaranda/watsutsi/batutsi, their tradition, things they enjoy to do, things that makes them abatutsi, their pride, where they belong and this is what they really are.

TIP…

The Tutsi women are said to be among the most beautiful women in Africa.

Rwanda their home is said to be the cleanest country in Africa.

TWA

Twa are said to be the first inhabitants in Rwanda before the Hutu and Tutsi arrived. But till recent years Twa in Rwanda are still inferior and they feel like they are ruled by other tribes they are considered as the…….. tribe in Rwanda, the developed Twa in Burundi don’t want to be called twa and prefer “abaterambere” people who are advancing. And twa in Uganda they prefer to be called “Abayanda” but they are Batwa. Twa is the smallest ethnic group in Rwanda only 1% of the whole population. The batwa distinguish themselves into three groups Foresters, Fisherfolk and Potters. Forest batwa are called Impunyu found in the north and the south of Rwanda. Fisherfolk in Rwanda they are found in the shores of Lake Tanganyika, they trade fish for farm food or money. This group of batwa, men makes canoes and paddles where women make baskets, mats and fish traps. Twa are called “the keeper of the forest”

LANGUAGE

The twa speak the common bantu language spoken by every tribe in Rwanda that is Kinyarwanda, some speak kiga as well as French just like other tribes in Rwanda. But the Twa are said to have a very strong accent which you can differentiate from other tribes in Rwanda.

HOMES

Batwa are hunter gatherers, who dwell in the forest, due to the existence of Hutus who depended on cultivating which led to the forest ebb and then some Batwa got farms and started cultivating too and being gatherers was a history where other batwa move from one place to another to find the forest that suits may be this is why batwa are scattered from Egypt to the central and the East of Africa. Due to development which led to clearing of forests Batwa left to create new homes but as they seek for new ways to get food and shelter batwa are falling into poverty

Dancers by nature

Twa enjoy dancing it is their major recreation, they are said to be the great dancers amongst the three main tribes in Rwanda, history says they use to dance for the king (Mwami), they were great entertainers.

The Rwandese have a common dance which is called intore also referred to the Rwanda ballet this originates from the Belgians who colonized Rwanda, it is performed in different occasions specifically celebrations such as weddings and even political events.