Living in central Africa, the Hutu people can be found in either the country of
There are estimated to be about 11.5 million Hutu people in
all, and they make up about 85% of both the populations of Rwanda and Burundi . Both countries are among
the most densely populated in Africa.
The dominant language spoken by the Hutu people is a Bantu
sublanguage known as Rwanda-Rundi. This language is separated into Kinyarwanda
(which is spoken in Rwanda )
and Kirundi (which is spoken in Burundi ).
Although these languages are essentially the same, they differ some when it
comes to pronunciation. Another language that is sometimes spoken is Swahili.
Then there is also French. French is spoken due to the fact that the region of Rwanda and Burundi were once European
colonies.
The area of Rwanda
and Burundi is very
mountainous (most of Burundi
is above 5,000 ft above sea level). Rwanda is covered in mountains to
the west and a savanna to the east. This area’s climate can be described as
temperate/subtropical, with an average yearly precipitation of about 950
inches. Rwanda ’s average
yearly temperature high is about 80 F, which is significantly cooler then most
of Africa . When someone thinks of an African
country they normally imagine a desolate desert place. But this simply isn’t
true for many central/southern African countries, including the predominantly
Hutu countries of Rwanda and Burundi.
There are many theories and ideas as to what the origin of
the Hutu people is, but I will do my best to present facts alone. What is known
is that the Hutu are Bantu, which is a vast people group that is believed to
have originated in modern day Nigeria .
These Bantu people now make up a majority of the South/Central Africans. Beyond
this, there is little known about the origins of the Hutu. There are, however,
more recent details that we do know as facts. We know that it wasn’t until
about the 15th century that the land of Rwanda
developed into a Kingdom in which the Hutu made up many of the commoners
whereas the Tutsi made up the leading members of that society. This difference
in social status is partly to blame for the intense and violent rivalry between
the people groups of Hutu and Tutsi.
The two Hutu hosting countries of Rwanda and Burundi both
provide freedom of religion. Christianity is, without a doubt, the most
predominant religion in these countries. Burundi reports that 75% of their
population is Christian (they didn’t separate the Christians into their
sub-religions – Roman Catholics and Protestants). The rest of Burundi’s people
either believe in Islam, have indigenous beliefs, or don’t have any beliefs at
all. The most recent Rwandan survey reports that their population is about 93%
Christian (56% Roman Catholic, 37% Protestant) – with a remainder of either
Muslims or people claiming no religion. As these statistics display,
Christianity is dominant here. This is due to the fact that Rwanda and Burundi
were European colonies under Germany, and later Belgium. These two nations
brought, with their occupation, Roman Catholic missionaries. These missionaries
were inspired by the intense racism of the time to convert many of the people
in this area to Christianity. Unfortunately they also fed the rivalry between
Hutu and the Tutsi by preaching to them that the Tutsi were a superior race. One
can’t be totally sure why the missionaries did this, but what’s known is that
their teachings, along with other factors, caused much violence between the
Hutu and Tutsi people groups.
On the subject of violence between the Hutu and Tutsi, one
must begin with the year 1956. Belgium had ruled over these people since 1916,
and (as I mentioned earlier) the Tutsi people were of higher political status
then the Hutu. Belgium was plenty friendly with the Tutsi people due to their
power, but they didn’t treat the Hutu very well. By 1956, the Hutu people
revolted, killing many Tutsi and taking control of the Rwanda from Belgium. By
1962 they had established a Hutu-dominant state. This state lasted until 1990.
Poor economy and food shortages led to renewed tensions between the Hutu and
Tutsi. The Tutsi then led a rebellion which began the Rwandan Civil War.
While the war ended in 1993 with the agreement for the Hutu
and Tutsi to share power, tensions and rivalry lived on. This deep hatred was
awoken once more when the Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and the Burundi
President Cyprien Ntaryamira were assassinated when they’re plane was shot
down. Nobody is sure who shot them down, whether it was Tutsi rebels or Hutu
extremists. But, whatever the cause, it led to a massive and terrible genocide
in which the 500,000 (some sources estimate as many as 1,000,000) Tutsis were
killed by the Hutu extremists over the course of 100 days. That was at least
20% of Rwanda’s population. This struggle was eventually won by the Tutsis and
peace came to the country thanks to foreign aid.
There were so many things factoring into the hate between
Hutu and Tutsis. There was the difference in social status, corrupt and hateful
media and deceitful European missionaries. In the end nobody is innocent for
such slaughter. One cannot blame corrupt media for blood one your own hands.
Tensions have been on the decline for the Hutu people since
the Rwandan Genocide, but they still hold ill feelings for their Tutsi
neighbors. The Hutu people are opposed to the idea of democracy because they
feel that it was the Tutsi’s idea. This, among other factors, has kept the
economies of Rwanda and Burundi from achieving success.
Most Hutu are and always have been occupied in agricultural
tasks. Most raise crops, but many also raise cattle. Since fewer Hutus are seen
raising cattle then those who are seen farming, cattle herders are socially
ranked higher then farmers. This ties in to Rwanda’s economy – in which 70% of
its population is employed in agriculture. It is mostly the men, however, that
do the work in the field. Although women do their share in the fields, they’re
main priority is to take care of the home.
Speaking of which, women are, for the most part, treated
fairly in the Hutu community. However they have had their share of injustices.
Women, as a whole, suffered a lot during the Rwandan Genocide and Civil War.
Due to the chaos and disorder, the law was difficult to maintain and many Hutu
women suffered rape and other injustices. But such acts are certainly not
condoned within the Hutu community. Remember: the Hutu people are mostly
Christians. One would think this odd since the Hutu people committed genocide
upon their rivals (the Tutsi). But the reason their religion didn’t restrain
them from that large scale murder was because their media had taught them the
Tutsi were lesser beings and that it was their moral duty to kill them.
Since the work of most Hutu involves agriculture, most of
the Hutu live in rural areas. Within these rural areas, traditional housing is
very common. The Hutu houses are often constructed with wood, reeds, and straw.
Although many modern-made houses are made with modern and urban-like materials,
the traditional hut-like structures are still a common sight.
In the Hutu community there are plenty of activities for
neighboring residents to participate in. Just like most African people, music,
dancing, and drumming are important to the Hutu people. The Hutu people enjoy
lively community events in which they can dance and sing together. The men and
women often have their own unique dances that blend with each other and the
music beautifully.
But, for the most part, being a Hutu does not involve fun
and games. Nearly all of them must work very hard to supply themselves with
food. Perhaps their situation would be better if they were each educated
better? Unfortunately, the Hutu are not a particularly learned people. Some
Hutus can’t even read or write in their own language, let alone French or
Swahili. Although there are no statistics on Hutu education, Rwanda (which has
a population that’s 84% Hutu) reported a 71% literacy rate as of 2009. Although
this isn’t a very impressive number, the country is making great progress
because their literacy rate just 20 years ago was about 58%.
Hutu meals, for the most part, consist of beans, corn,
millet, sorghum, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Due to the number of cattle
herders, beef and milk are also part of many Hutu meals.
Such simple foods tie in with farming, herding, and the
overall laid-back experience of rural life to make the Hutu people uncomplicated.
The Hutu people are defined by their primitive occupation, their Christianity,
and their violent rivalry past with the Tutsi people.