Living in central Africa, the Hutu people can be found in either the country of Rwanda or Burundi. They share both of these countries with two similar people groups: the Tutsi and the Twa.

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 15^th 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.