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

Belgium in Control

Before the Europeans arrived in Rwanda, the elite group of Rwandans was the Tutsi people (also known as Batutsi), who were cattle herders and military chiefs. The rest of the population was made up of Hutu (or Bahutu) and Twa (or Batwa) peasant farmers. (1) Although the relationship between the king and current population was unequal, the relationship between  the Tutsi, Hutu ad Twa was beneficial for both parties. There was respect between the different groups. (1)

"In 1899 Rwanda became a German colony" (1). But following World War I, Rwanda became under the administration of Belgium in 1919. So during this colonial period that Rwanda was under the control of Germany and Belgium, a cash crop system was introduced (1).

In short, European involvement in Rwanda has been a massive agent in the direction that the country has taken for over 100 years. I say this because to this day there is wide spread division and racism amongst the Tutsi and Hutu people. At first, Belgium favored the wealthy elite Tutsi. However, when the demand for independence began (majorly supported by the leading Tutsi) Belgium decided to favor the Hutu instead. Then in 1959, "the first massacres of the Tutsi occurred at the hands of the Hutu political party and under the authority of Belgium" (1). It has been an ongoing battle ever since.

According to Eyes on Africa (2), the actual first European visitors to Rwanda were Portuguese explorers who were following slave trader routes inland throughout Africa. Alongside the conquest and colonialization of Rwanda came with it a definite religious aspect. Roman Catholicism and Protestantism were introduced, and are now the prominent religions in the nation. That brought with it certain understandings of gospel and Jesus, but seemingly little understanding of the term “Prince of Peace” or peacemaker. While Christianity can and should be a very peaceful religion, Germany and Belgium introduced a version of Christianity that also added extra elements such as control, abuse of power and ranking the worth of certain people groups. All of these things, I believe Jesus would take grave issue with (pun intended)!

Bibliography:

1. .  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

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

Resources of Rwanda

Rwanda is an amazing country with many different exports. Although Rwanda's exports don't bring in a substantial amount of profit for the country, they are still many different wonderful natural resources that Rwanda offers.

Their main exports, and most profitable exports, currently are coffee and tea. This is interesting to me personally because my husband and I recently started a coffee roasting company in SE Oklahoma. Although we don't import a lot from Rwanda, there is a lot of information within the coffee community about what soil types and geographical environments are more likely to grow the best beans. My husband and I have studied coffee for five years, and places like Rwanda have ideal growing conditions with their mild temperatures, volcanic soils, high altitude and steep slopes in the hills. Coffee plants grow ideally in hills where parts of the plant overshadow the fruit. “The combination of steep slopes, abundant rainfall, deforestation, and intensive farming has set in motion a process of extreme soil erosion” (Clay, Rwanda, 2015) 1.

Coffee, which was first introduced by European missionaries, has been a major cash crop in Rwanda for many years. And throughout history, when a worldwide plummet in coffee prices would occur, it would affect Rwandan economy drastically. Other crops that are grown in Rwanda include "pyrethrum, bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tobacco and corn" (Countries and Their Cultures, Rwanda, )2.  

Animals such as cows, goats, rabbits, sheep and pigs are grown in Rwanda, but things like water shortages and regular disease epidemics are major hindrances for national output of agriculture.

Rwanda also mines for many different minerals. Some of these minerals include gold, sapphires, cassiterite, tungsten and coltan. The Iron Age hit Central Africa around 3,000 years ago.  "Iron was probably used for small, valuable objects such as razors, needles, and knives. As the smelting technique became more commonplace, iron came to be used for cutlasses, axes, and, eventually, hoes, which replaced the old wooden digging sticks." (Birmingham, Central Africa, 2015) 3. 

Photo- (Pilgrim, Plantains) 4.

Early pre-colonial Rwandan culture shifted from a hunter-gatherer way of life (10,000 years ago) to a lifestyle of farming. This was true of much of Central Africa when the arrival of the banana family of plants arrived. “Banana plants, like yam tubers, were propagated by cuttings and roots rather than by seeds, but they gradually spread from neighbour to neighbour until the crop had become a dominant one in many parts of Central Africa.” (Clay, Rwanda, 2015), 1. The two primary banana plants used were vegetable bananas, plantains, and sweet bananas that were brewed into beer.  (Clay, Rwanda, 2015), 1.

Bibliography-

1.  Daniel Clay, “Rwanda.” Encyclopaedia Brittanica, (June 2015), http://www.britannica.com/place/Rwanda
2. Countries and Their Cultures, "Rwanda." Advameg Inc. (2015) http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Rwanda.html

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

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

Rwandan Religion

More than half of Rwandan population is currently Roman Catholic while another 25%-30% is Protestant. There are a growing number of Seventh Day Adventists and a very small number of Muslims, while less than a percent currently participates in other indigenous religions. This large number of Catholics and Protestants is significant throughout history, and certainly for the current reality of the state.  One reason it is significant is because it was the Roman Catholic missionaries in the colonial-era that helped encourage and even introduce the idea of Tutsi superiority, and then later Hutu superiority. So the church, very much, has played into the racial dispute that has gone on for hundreds of years.

                

According to the Dictionary of African Christian Biography, “Rwanda was one of the last areas of Africa to receive Christian missionaries.” (1.) The first Catholic mission was started in 1900 and German Lutherans began work in Rwanda in 1908, but were expelled during the first world war.

                

Pre-Colonial Rwanda fell into a cast system. The highest of the caste system was the king of the Tutsi clan, and he was known as the Mwami. The Mwami was believed to be of divine origin. A famous myth that I found in many places of research, including African Myths of Origin is the story of three children who each grew in a pot filled with milk. Each of the children fell from heaven to a woman who was unable to bear children. She was begging and paying Imana (the tribal god) for a child. It is believed that one of the three children was Kigwa, who founded the elite Tutsi clan. (2.) Later on when Catholicism made its way into Rwanda, the Hutu and Tutsi people were taught that there was a different inherent value placed on them. The Rwandan people believed it and the Church confirmed it. It is such a tragedy for the nation of Rwanda.

Bibliography

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

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

Celebrating the Arts

Throughout history, music and dance have been a very important way for Rwandans to pass down tradition and celebrate during festivals and simply as a form of storytelling. Since much of Rwandas history has been passed down without being written on paper, there are many beautiful ways of expression that Rwandans keep tradition alive.

Dance tradition in Rwanda is particularly fascinating. Young men in the royal court were trained in a form of martial dancing. This most famous traditional dance is called the Intore and it is divided into three main parts: the ballet of women, the men's "dance of heroes", and finally, the drums. Drums are an essential part of Rwandan musical history and are one of the more valuable instruments in their culture.

The Intore dance has been preserved, in spite of the fall of the monarchy, through the creation of a national dance troupe. It is also taught in school for younger children.

Another way that Rwanda's history has been preserved and passed down is through the beautiful baskets woven by the Tutsi people.

These two photos are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My family was fortunate to visit last fall and see many amazing creations from this region in Africa.

www.metmuseum.org

In Rwanda, woven receptacles and other architectural elements were the most common form of artistic expression. The baskets were hand made from grass-like plants that were found throughout the mountainous landscape.

Among the Tutsi elite, basketry jobs were gender specific. Men would build dwellings and other large structures and women would build more refined woven artifacts such as floor mats and baskets. They would even give very small baskets to each other for gifts.

Depending on what was being created, the weaving method varied greatly. Some would use a spiral frame while others would use a frame and cover.

Sadly, the social upheaval of the 1990's led to the destruction of many earlier pieces of art throughout history. But there is currently a great movement across Rwanda to re-develop the arts. Many different organizations are encouraging peaceful problem solving through artistic expression, ie. painting, music, and sculpture. Inemaartscenter.com is a wonderful place to find some of the current art culture in Rwanda, which I believe is a necessary tool used for healing the wounds of war.