Exploring ‘Tutsi’ and ‘Hutu’ Constructs, Tribalism, and Current Realities of Rwanda and Burundi on their Independence Days

Jul 01, 2021 04:00PM ● By Oga Africa

Ruanda-Urundi Coat of Arms. Image by Dn9ahx via Wikipedia Talk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ruanda-Urundi_Arms.gif#/media/File:Ruanda-Urundi_Arms.gif

Rwanda and Burundi celebrate independence days on July 1st. Today we are exploring the connection between these bordering countries, ‘Tutsi’ and ‘Hutu’ constructs, tribalism, and colonial roots of the tribal conflicts that plague these central eastern countries.

In 1890, the kingdoms of Ruanda and Urundi were claimed by Germany and named Ruanda-Urundi. This territory was given to Belgium after World World II. In 1962, the twin territories separated, and Ruanda-Urundi became Burundi and Rwanda. Both countries have experienced traumatic violence due to tribalism, from the colonial era until today.

(Burundian women farming. Image by CIAT via Flickr)

Burundi and Rwanda have predominantly Hutu populations, along with a small Tutsi population, a small percentage of Twa groups or Pygmies, who are indigenous to the area, and other minorities. In both countries, many of the governing powers belonged to the Tutsi ethnic group, as German and Belgian colonialists gave Tutsi groups advantages over the Hutus by placing them in positions of power and giving them modern education.

Belgians created ethnic identification cards for the Hutus and Tutsis in 1926. The Hutus and Tutsis, ironically, speak the same language and have few cultural differences between them.

Violence due to the class divide between the Hutus and Tutsis did not start with the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. In 1959, a group of Hutus rebelled against Belgian colonizers and the upper-class Tutsi minority. As a result, over 15,000 Tutsis migrated to Burundi. From 1963 onward, Tutsis were subjected to mass killings, job exclusions, and more.

(Kigali, Rwanda. Image by Ron Cogswell via Flickr)

On April 6th, 1994, Burundi and Rwandan presidents, Cyprien Ntaryamira and Juvénal Habyarimana, were killed when their plane was shot down, and an hour later, the Rwandan genocide ensued. By the third month, Hutu loyalists, including ordinary civilians, killed a grueling 800,000 Tutsis. At the end of the genocide, two-third of the Tutsi population in Rwanda had been wiped out, with casualties of Hutus and Twa groups. Rwanda is currently experiencing immense development and is rewriting the country’s legacy, from genocide to development, clean streets, and peace.

(Burundian children holding beans. Image by CIAT via Flickr)

Tribalism continues to plague Burundi, and food insecurity and political unrest have been themes in the past few years. The World Food Programme noted that Burundi has the highest level of chronic malnutrition in the world. Learn more about Burundi’s food crisis and how you can help here.