The Tutsis are the second largest ethnic group in Rwanda, representing approximately 15% of the Rwandan population. Historically also known as Watutsi, Watusi, Wahuma, Wahima, or Wahinda.

The Tutsis form a subgroup of the Banyarwanda and Barundi peoples, who primarily reside between Rwanda and Burundi, with populations also in Uganda and Tanzania.

The majority ethnic group in Rwanda is the Hutus, followed by the Tutsis, with the Batwa as the smallest minority. Additionally, there are a small number of Hema and Kiga communities in Rwanda.

The Tutsis, of Nilotic origin, migrated from Ethiopian lands to settle in Rwanda. Upon arriving in Rwanda, they encountered two ethnic groups already inhabiting the land: the Hutus and the Batwa. The Tutsis quickly subdued and imposed themselves upon these groups.

For centuries, Tutsis and Hutus coexisted, even merging their cultures, speaking the same language, Kinyarwanda. They eventually became two castes within the same society, with the Tutsis occupying the upper class and the Hutus the lower class. This unequal relationship deteriorated over time, becoming increasingly unsustainable due to a feudal system that led to the loss of possessions and enslavement of the Hutus by the Tutsis.

The arrival of Belgian and German colonizers further exacerbated the situation, as the colonial governments supported and empowered the Tutsis, even instituting an ethnic identity card that differentiated the two groups and relegated the Hutus socially and economically. This made coexistence untenable and extended until the end of colonial rule in 1961. The passage of time has revealed the dire and painful consequences of the colonial administrations’ policies, which left a legacy of suffering.

After Rwanda’s declaration of independence, the country democratically abolished the Tutsi monarchy and established a republic governed by the majority caste, the Hutus. Throughout the 1970s, tensions and social hatred between the two groups led to numerous violent episodes, culminating in a brutal Civil War that erupted in 1990 and lasted until April 1994, when Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana was assassinated.

The president’s assassination triggered the Rwandan Genocide, during which the Hutus killed 70% of the Tutsi population.

The Rwandan Genocide is considered one of the most violent and shameful episodes in recent human history. Today, both ethnic groups are working together to move forward, attempting to put the past behind them, and open their country’s heart to the world.