History and Culture

The early history of Rwanda is predominantly oral, little or no written records exist. Rwanda's earliest inhabitants were hunter-gathers or Twa, who still make up part of the population today. The Twa were followed by farmers, known as Hutu and then cattle owners - the Tutsi . Over time a hierarchy emerged with the cattle owners at the top and the Twa at the bottom of the order, most of Rwanda was ruled by a Tutsi king ( mwami ), and a reconstruction of the royal palace close to Butare can be visited today. Rwanda reached the height of its power under Mutara II (reigned early 19th cent.) and Kigeri IV (reigned 1853-95). Kigeri established a standing army, equipped with guns purchased from traders from the East African coast, and prohibited most foreigners from entering his kingdom.

The words "Hutu" and "Tutsi" had a variety of inter-related meanings however, generally revolving around notions of patronage and clientage.

The Colonial Era

For many centuries the monarchy ruled peacefully and untouched by the outside world. In 1885 Rwanda and neighbouring Burundi were assigned to Germany as part of German East Africa, despite no European having set foot in the country. German penetration in Ruanda-Urundi started in 1892 when an expedition reached Ruanda. This was formalised in 1898 and the Germans inherited a highly organised country. In 1916 Belgium (Congolese Force Publique) invaded and was officially recognised as Colonialist ruler by the League of Nations in 1919.

The Belgians kept the existing social and economic hierarchy, but also introduced their own administrators and governance. In the 1930s the Belgians introduced identity cards which recorded 'ethnicity' - still in use at the time of the 1994 genocide.

Belgium retained Rwanda as a colony following World War II, but as in other parts of Africa the mutterings for independence started to be heard, and Hutu voice also grew louder. In 1959, following a series of local unrests the country was placed under military rule by the Belgians with a Hutu at the head. Tutsis started to flee the country and outbursts of violence started to occur. In 1962 Rwanda was declared a republic.

The Republic

Grégoire Kayibanda, a Hutu, became Rwanda's first president, although in essence the country was a dictatorship. Tutsi were continuing to flee the country as attacks against them increased and groups of Tutsis in neighbouring countries retaliated with raids across the borders. This pattern of violence continued for many years. In 1973 Kayibanda was toppled in a military coup led by Habyarimana, who became Rwanda's second president. Tutsi refugees continued to attack the borders, the most organised and threatening of which were led by the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) from Uganda, with the stated aim of bringing democracy. French troops supported the government and violence increased. Habyarimana made many promises of democracy, but little materialised, upsetting both the Tutsis and the hardline Hutus.

On April 6 th 1994, a plane carrying president Habyarimana was shot down close to Kigali airport. The culprits have never been identified, but within hours the genocide had begun.

The Genocide
In April 1994 the Hutu army and civilian militia rose up in a wave of death and destruction against the Tutsis and moderate Hutus. In three months up to a million people were killed and tens of thousands of refugees fled the country

A ceasefire was declared in July 1994 and a UN-backed Transitional National Assembly became operational in December of that year. Sporadic bursts of violence were to continue for a further three years in and around refugee settlements, with hardline Hutus mounting cross-border guerrilla raids. But the new government remained in control.

The whole, short-lived but ferocious period of genocide, and ensuing process of stabilisation thrust Rwanda into the limelight. Since then both Hutu and Tutsi have strived together for democracy and despite its terrible history Rwanda is now a story of hope. Rwanda continues to rebuild and there exists peace and order across the country.

back to top