Final Project- Rwanda

Rwanda is a beautiful landlocked country in Africa. It is a very small country, but is one of the highest African countries in population density. It sits in a subtropical climate with lush rivers, trees, mountains, and beautiful scenery. Rwanda shares their border with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is located a few degrees south of the equator. While English and French serve as the official languages, the most common language spoken in Rwanda is Kinyarwandan.

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            Rwanda has seen times of peace and lots of times of war throughout recorded and non-recorded parts of history. While most of history has a written record of Rwanda being full of violence, betrayal and racism, it hasn’t always been this way. For as long as anyone can recall, Rwanda has had three primary people groups that make up its population. These people groups are the Batutsi, Bahutu, and Batwa (also known as the Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa). In pre-colonial Africa, these groups were not familiar with words like “tribe” or “people group.” They spoke the same languages, some intermarried, and they dealt fairly peacefully amongst each other. The only thing that really separated the groups was that of physical appearance. The Tutsi people were a tall and slender people, the Hutu were shorter and round in stature, and the Twa were very small, being a pygmy group. The Tutsi people’s job was primarily raising cattle, while the Hutu were subsistence farmers.

            “The kingdom of Rwanda had its beginning in the 1500s with a minor clan based polity founded by Tutsi Ruganza Bwimba near Kigali.”²  In the early 1600’s Mwami Ndori expanded the Rwandan kingdom by ultimate economic dominance of the Hutu and Tutsi, and many Mwamis later followed in Ndori’s footsteps. Because the Mwamis were typically Tutsi people, they showed an innate preference of the Tutsi and often neglected the Hutu; however, sometimes a Mwami would show preference of the Hutu. This started a dispute that would last for hundreds of years. This three minute video from the History Channel does a good job of giving us some more background to the story.

            There were three main functions that the kingdom would oversee, and they included the management of “agriculture, cattle, and recruitment of military.”² This form of governance became known as ‘ubuhake’. Within ubuhake, there were rare circumstances in which a Tutsi could become Hutu if he lost wealth and cattle, and a Hutu could become Tutsi if he married a Tutsi woman.

            Throughout Rwandan history, people have passed down traditions and celebrated major events in people’s lives by expression of the arts. Art is a very important part of Rwandan culture. Music and dance are used to celebrate the major milestones that a member of the community is experiencing, ie. birth, marriage, having children, etc. The ‘Intore’, or Dance of Heroes, is an ancient celebrated dance that is still taught in Rwanda today. Basketry, or basket weaving, is a traditional art form that was customary for Tutsi Rwandans several hundred years ago. Men would typically weave larger architectural projects, while the women would weave smaller more delicate pieces.

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                Religion has been a very important part of Rwanda’s history. Before the 20^th century, the only known religions were mystic tribal religions and there is very little record of where these religions originated. The turn of the 20^th century brought the arrival of the Catholic missionaries, called the White Fathers, from Uganda into Rwanda, “building their first mission at Save in 1899.”⁴ It was right around this time that Germany entered Rwanda to colonize it. In “1908, German Lutheran missionaries came to Rwanda, but were soon expelled during the First World War.”⁵ At the end of WW1, Belgium gained Rwanda as its colony. After the entrance of Catholic missionaries who came to Rwanda, many other missionaries soon followed. More than half of Rwanda is currently Roman Catholic, while another 25-30% is Protestant. This major religious shift can be directly attributed to these early Fathers who came to Rwanda to share the gospel.

            Colonialism in Rwanda created a harsh environment that fostered racism. A great divide continued between the Hutu and Tutsi people groups. In the 1950’s, the Catholic Church stepped in to help end the ongoing unequal treatment between the Hutu and Tutsi. “This contributed significantly to the 1959 revolution, the abolition of the monarchy and of the Tutsi monopoly of power, at the same time as the end of Belgian colonial rule.”⁶ Of course, all Rwandan problems wouldn’t be solved overnight because the unequal treatment had gone on for hundreds of years.

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            The last 30 years have seen some of the greatest shifts in Rwandan culture. In 1962, Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium, but this followed decades of Belgium rule showing partiality to either the Tutsi or Hutu, depending on the time period. In the late 1900’s, there was great upheaval amongst different political groups. These groups, of course, were largely divided between the wealthy Tutsi and poor majority Hutu. The Hutu were tired of being treated so poorly, so they sent mass messages through the radio to start killing Tutsi people. In 1994, Rwanda experienced a mass genocide in a short 100 day time span. At the onset of 1994, Rwanda had 7-8 million in population. And during the 100 days of killing, nearly one million people died.

            Since this terrible time in Rwandan history, the culture has made valiant efforts to rebuild itself. Paul Kagame is the current President of Rwanda, and in many ways, Kagame could be considered one of the greatest leaders in Africa’s vast history. Kagame led a militia that ended the genocide. He instituted a just court system and punished people fairly. Education in Rwanda is better than it has ever been, as well as businesses. And violence and corruption have been very small, compared to the last 30 years. He is respected and revered by most Rwandans and people worldwide who know of the peace he helped bring to this region. Rwandans have also used artistic means to bring healing to their communities. Schools and other outlets for painting and poetry have been created to help people process the pain they have endured during their lifetime. While Rwanda’s history has been full of hardship, it doesn’t necessarily have to continue down this road any longer. With one of the fastest economies in Africa and across the globe, many people are hopeful that Rwanda is taking a long-term turn for the better.

Bibliography:

1.      Black Tomato, “An Intrepid Honeymoon in Rwanda and Mautitius,” accessed 8/21/15, http://www.blacktomato.com/rwanda-mauritius-honeymoon-2/

2.      Afropedea, “Kingdom of Rwanda,” accessed 8/21/15, http://www.afropedea.org/kingdom-of-rwanda

3.      Yaelle Biro, “Tutsi Basketry,” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, (2011): Accessed 8/21/15, http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tuts/hd_tuts.htm

4.      Koff, Clea, "Monogamy vs. Polygyny in Rwanda: Round 1 - The White Fathers Round 2 - The 1994 Genocide" (1997). Nebraska Anthropologist. Paper 106. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebanthro/106

5.      Kevin Ward, “A Brief History of the Church in Rwanda,” (2008). http://www.dacb.org/history/rwanda-briefhistory.htm

6.      Ward, Kevin, “A Brief History of the Church in Rwanda.” Dictionary of African Christian Biography, (2008).  Accessed August 7, 2015. http://www.dacb.org/history/rwanda-briefhistory.htm

7.      “World Atlas”, Rwanda, (2015). http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/rw.htm

8.      Stephen Belcher, African Myths of Origin, (London, England, the Penguin Group, 2005). 182-191.

9.      Daniel Clay, “Rwanda.” Encyclopaedia Brittanica, (June 2015). http://www.britannica.com/place/Rwanda

10.  Countries and Their Cultures, "Rwanda." Advameg Inc. (2015). http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Rwanda.html

11.  David Birmingham, “Central Africa.” Encyclopaedia Brittanica, (July 2015). http://www.britannica.com/place/central-Africa/The-Iron-Age

12.  Timothy Pilgrim, "Plantains" Wikipedia Commons,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bananavarieties.jpg#/media/File:Bananavarieties.jpg

13.  “Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation,” Pre-Colonial and Colonial. Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. (2010). http://www.minaffet.gov.rw/index.php?id=935

14.  Eyes on Africa Ltd. Rwanda History and General Information. 2015. http://www.eyesonafrica.net/african-safari-rwanda/rwanda-info.htm

15.  “Why Rwanda?” African Global Mission, (2005). Accessed August 7, 2015.http://www.africanglobalmission.org/whyrwanda.htm
16. Adrian Gregorich, “Remembering the Rwandan Genocide,” THE SENTINEL PROJECT, (April 7, 2014): Accessed 8/21/15, https://thesentinelproject.org/2014/04/07/remembering-the-rwandan-genocide/

Borders, Politics and Change

The earliest written records of Rwanda tell about a man named Rwabugiri. He came to the Rwandan throne in 1860. This is the first written account of the presence and division of the Hutu and Tutsi people. The Tutsi were the aristocracy and the Hutu were subservient to the Tutsi. In 1894, Count von Gotzen, who was the first German to visit Rwanda, visits the court of Rwabugiri, and one year later Rwabugiri dies. ¹

This was a very important time in Rwandan history because shortly following this time the Germans took over Rwanda (and Burundi, to the south). The Germans named the entire colony Ruanda-Urundi. Ruana-Urundi was one of the only African countries that had an established kingdom in place before the Europeans colonized Africa. Tucked away in the heart of the continent, Rwandans believed their kingdom was the centre of the world and for many centuries, foreigners were not allowed.² So because Rwanda already had a monarchy and ruling system in place when it was colonized, the Germans didn’t have to implement such a structure (or any other form of government, for that matter).  Soon after German rule, Belgium received Rwanda as its own colony.

Essentially, for the first half of the 1900’s the Tutsi were the favored people group, socially and politically. But in the 1960’s Hutu political parties formed and led a movement that ended the monarchy.² In 1962 Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium with Gregoire Kayibanda (leader of the PARMEHUTU party) as president.³ During this time the boundary lines of Rwanda stayed generally the same. Now, there were two nationally defined political parties. And with the strong political lines drawn between the Hutu and Tutsi, division only increased.

Kayibanda was overthrown in 1973 by a coup led by Major General Juvenal Habyarimana. Habyarimana launched a single political party in 1975 and was reelected in 1983 and 1988.³ Then came the civil war in 1990, which only magnified until 1994, the year that President Habyarimana was killed. 1/8^th of the population of Rwanda died during this civil war.

Currently Paul Kagame is the President of Rwanda, and in many ways, he is one of the most successful leaders in modern African history. ⁴ Kagame led a militia that ended the genocide. He instituted a just court system and punished people fairly. Education in Rwanda is better than it has ever been, as well as business. And violence and corruption have been very small, compared to the last 30 years. He is respected and revered by most Rwandans and people worldwide who know of the peace he helped bring to this region.

11.       “History of Rwanda: Ruanda-Urundi: 1887-1914,” History World,  accessed 8/15/15, http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad24

22.      “History & Politics: Rwanda’s early settlers,” Our Africa, accessed 8/15/15,  http://www.our-africa.org/rwanda/history-politics

33.       “Rwanda—History,” East Africa Living Encyclopedia, African Studies Center. Accessed 8/15/15, http://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/rwhistory.htm

44.       “A successful man with no successor,” Rwanda’s political future: King Paul, (March 28, 2015) accessed 8/15/15, http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21647365-successful-man-no-successor-king-paul?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e

Rwandan Missions

The turn of the 20^th century brought the arrival of the Catholic missionaries, called the White Fathers, from Uganda into Rwanda, “building their first mission at Save in 1899” (Koff 1994, 84).  While a large majority of Africa was receiving missionaries from Islam, the Church of Scotland, Seventh Day Adventist, Protestantism and more, Rwanda only had the White Fathers. At this time, Rwanda was known as German East Africa and was under German rule. In 1908, German Lutheran missionaries came to Rwanda, but were soon expelled during the First World War (Ward 2008, 1).

A Belgian Protestant Missionary Society soon entered Rwanda, followed by Seventh Day Adventists and Anglicans, who were all targeting the Tutsi elite class as their desired mission field. “In the 1930's there was a revival that became one of the most important movements of spiritual renewal throughout East African Protestantism” (Ward 2008, 1).

Colonialism in Rwanda created a harsh environment that fostered racism. A great divide continued between the Hutu and Tutsi people groups. Sadly, there were not many Christians taking a stand against this at the time.

However, in the 1950’s, the Catholic Church stepped in to help end the ongoing unequal treatment between the Hutu and Tutsi. “This contributed significantly to the 1959 revolution, the abolition of the monarchy and of the Tutsi monopoly of power, at the same time as the end of Belgian colonial rule” (Ward 2008, 1) Of course, all Rwandan problems wouldn’t be solved overnight because the unequal treatment had gone on for hundreds of years.

Many revivalists living in Rwanda are said to have refused to participate in the life-ending battles that went on during this time. There are also accounts of “well-dressed neighbors walking to church on Sunday Morning” and these same neighbors “woke up one morning and slaughtered one another” (africanglobalmission.org 2005).

Statistics show that somewhere between 80-90% of Rwandans today identify as Christian. Most of those are Catholics, and Protestantism makes up almost the rest of the country’s religious affiliation. This truly is remarkable! According to African Global Mission, “Rwanda is generally regarded as one of the most "Christian" countries in Africa and the World”{..}“It is said that Rwanda is one of the real "successes" of Christian missions in Africa” (africanglobalmission.org 2005).

References:

Koff, Clea, "Monogamy vs. Polygyny in Rwanda: Round 1 - The White Fathers Round 2 - The 1994 Genocide" (1997). Nebraska Anthropologist. Paper 106. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebanthro/106

Ward, Kevin, “A Brief History of the Church in Rwanda.” Dictionary of African Christian Biography, 2008.  Accessed August 7, 2015. http://www.dacb.org/history/rwanda-briefhistory.htm

“Why Rwanda?” African Global Mission, (2005) Accessed August 7, 2015. http://www.africanglobalmission.org/whyrwanda.htm