The Beginning of the Rwandan Genocide - 758 Words

The first know people to live in the region near Rwanda were the Twa, other wise know as Pygmies. However, between 700 and 1000 BC, Hutu people from the Congo River basin migrated to the area. Although the Hutu had been well functioning since their arrival, in the 15th century, the Tutsi tribe arrived from Northern Africa. The Tutsi were more powerful and conquered the Hutu, creating an intricate feudal system. The Tutsi became the ruling, landowning class and the Hutu became peasants and surfs, while any remaining Twa were the lowest in the social pyramid. Through the end of the 19th century, the region consisting much of modern-day Rwanda was ruled by a single Tutsi king– the mwami. Similar to the Medieval feudal system, the King controlled other Tusti lords and vassals, who then controlled the Hutu working class. By the middle of the 19th century, the kingdom was at its pinnacle, financially well and equipped with a modernly armed military, thanks to trade with eastern Afri cans. In the mid-1800s european settlers began to appear in the 1880s German explorers and colonizers arrived. With German colonization becoming a threat, the mwami finally agreed to German protectorate rule without contest or opposition, knowing he would face defeat if he did. As of 1890, the former Tutsi controlled region was now officially part of German East Africa. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century in 1907 that German administration actually began to take affect in the area. A fewShow MoreRelatedThe Genocide And The Holocaust Of Night By Elie Wiesel1458 Words   |  6 Pagesatrocities as a genocide. Man will never learn from past mistakes or all of a sudden stop mass killings or genocides. Humans have always killed and they will continue to do it. Humans will not all of a sudden be pacifists and stop killing. This has happened with the Rwandan genocide and with the Holocaust in Night by Elie Wiesel. Man will not stop committing such atrocities and have a brighter future and these are only a few reasons why. First of all, man has been killing since the beginning of time. EvenRead MoreIn Her Article, â€Å"How Not To Talk About African Fiction:1516 Words   |  7 Pagessocial ills, cultural themes, and political concerns† (par. 4). Although it highlights the social ill of the Rwandan Genocide, Boris Boubacar Diop’s novel, Murambi: The Book of Bones (2000), attracts audiences due to having a fictional storyline while simultaneously discussing the realistic events and experiences of the Rwandan genocide. Within the novel, Diop writes about the Rwandan Genocide, spending a particular amount of time on the massacre that took place at the Murambi technical school. ToRead MoreInternational Community Is Culpable For The Rwandan Genocide1376 Words   |  6 PagesApril to June 1994, in a mere 100 days, approximately 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered during the Rwandan genocide (Destexhe, 1994). The international community failed to prevent or stop this slaughter. Considering the horrific nature of this genocide and the vast number of victims, there is a question whether the international community is culpable for the Rwandan genocide; specifically, the role of its key players, the US, the UN, France and Belgium. I will argue that the internationalRead MoreInformative Speech on Rwandan Genocide Outline1300 Words   |  6 PagesBen Johnson Intro to Comm. 1320-04 11/8/12 Rwandan Genocide General Purpose: To Inform Specific Purpose: To share with the class that the Rwandan Genocide was a brutal genocide that most people know little about. Thesis: The Rwandan Genocide is one of the lesser known, quickest, and most inhumane genocides this world has ever seen, and it is still affecting the people of Rwanda till this day. Organizational Pattern: Topical Introduction I. Attention Getter:Read MoreThe Terrible Acts of Rwandan Genocide1296 Words   |  6 PagesIn between 1930 and 1945, an event took place that changed the world in many ways. The Holocaust was a genocide that consisted of the decimation of one single race, the Jews. This solemn event is very similar (and also quite different) to another event that took place only four thousand miles away. Like the Holocaust, this event is was a genocide and it took place at Rwanda in 1994. This genocide was between the Hutus and Tutsis. These two groups have a long background with each other that consistedRead More Roots of the Rwandan Genocide1739 Words   |  7 PagesOn April 6, 1994, Rwanda experienced a period of great turmoil as thousands of people fell victim to the horrors of the Rwandan genocide. The main targets of the genocide were Tutsis and Hutu moderates. Though the main cause of the genocide was a conflict between two ethnicities, the genocide was also fueled by political factors and social conditions. Rwanda is the smallest sub-Saharan country with a population of about 7 million inhabitants. Although the indigenous peoples of Rwanda are the TwaRead MoreRwand The Rwandan Genocide1296 Words   |  6 Pages The Rwandan genocide was the killing of 800,000 people in just 100 days. The Rwandan genocide took place in 1994. During this time Rwanda was a small country with a mostly agricultural economy. Although it is small it had one of the largest populations. In 1994 Rwanda was made up of three different ethnic groups. The Hutu made of 85% of the Rwandan population. The Tutsiâ₠¬â„¢s made of 14% of the population and was the minority. The Twa was a small Pygmy group that made up 1% of the population (unitedhumanrightsRead MoreChristianity and Genocide in Rwanda800 Words   |  4 Pagesand Genocide in Rwanda by Timothy Longman discusses the roles of the churches in Rwanda and how their influence might have been able to alter the outcome of the genocide. He discusses the rise of Juvenal Habyarimana in politics with his Catholic background, church and state relations, and obedience to political authority. His slogan â€Å"Peace, Unity, and Development† were his political plans for Rwanda. On April 6, 1994, president Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane was shot down marking the beginning of theRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide1188 Words   |  5 PagesRwandan Genocide The Rwandan Genocide began on April 6, 1994 and lasted for about 100 days (History). The two groups involved, the Hutus and Tutsis, were in a massive conflict after their president was killed. The Hutus brutally killed about 800,000 Tutsis and supporters. This tragic genocide was not stopped by other countries during its peak, leaving the world wondering why. As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, it is important to be informed about the tragedy. The wayRead MoreRe Writing History And Rwandan Identity Through The Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre Essay1473 Words   |  6 PagesRe-writing History and Rwandan Identity Through the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre In April 2004, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre opened to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide. Peacefully overlooking the city of Kigali, the Centre seeks to be a place of remembrance and honor for survivors as well as a step towards creating Rwanda’s post-genocide identity. Rwanda has sought to find its place politically, socially, and in memory through this westernized approach to remembrance