the late 1950s. This sparked a huge, bloody Hutu rebellion against the Tutsi aristocracy that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. One can see that sometimes historydoes repeat itself. In the battle for independence, in 1961, Rwandan officials organized a pre-election to establish the first Rwandan government. Gregoire Kayibanda won the election and his Hutu Emancipation Movement (Parmehutu) was now dominant over the once-dominated Tutsi society. In the following years, violence and competitioncontinued between the two groups for political dominance. As a result, many Tutsis fled to bordering countries such as Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Hutu government have been very oppressive toward Tutsis returning, and even question citizenship to those that already live in Rwanda. As history works itself out, Tutsi exiles would reorganize and initiate their movement, the RPF, in Uganda.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Colonial Era: Hutu vs. Tutsi
The already established feudal system in Rwanda survived until thecolonial era. Once the Europeans intervened, all hell broke loose. With the Germans introducing European influence to the Rwandans, later in 1916, the Belgians took over control of the existing order as a mandate of the League of Nations. The Belgians classified the Tutsis as the more dominant sector than the Hutus. From their consequential classification between the two, social order was instable from then on. Religious conversion to Catholicism was mandatory and both sides seem to resist. In addition, continuous pressure on Hutu peasantry to produce more cash crops, who are already forced to live in overcrowded places. With the clear advantage leaning over to the wealthy Tutsi landowners, discontent grew over the Hutu population. Tutsi-dominated Rwanda lasted for about twenty years until the Mwami, the king (see figure below), died in the late 1950s. This sparked a huge, bloody Hutu rebellion against the Tutsi aristocracy that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. One can see that sometimes historydoes repeat itself. In the battle for independence, in 1961, Rwandan officials organized a pre-election to establish the first Rwandan government. Gregoire Kayibanda won the election and his Hutu Emancipation Movement (Parmehutu) was now dominant over the once-dominated Tutsi society. In the following years, violence and competitioncontinued between the two groups for political dominance. As a result, many Tutsis fled to bordering countries such as Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Hutu government have been very oppressive toward Tutsis returning, and even question citizenship to those that already live in Rwanda. As history works itself out, Tutsi exiles would reorganize and initiate their movement, the RPF, in Uganda.
the late 1950s. This sparked a huge, bloody Hutu rebellion against the Tutsi aristocracy that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands. One can see that sometimes historydoes repeat itself. In the battle for independence, in 1961, Rwandan officials organized a pre-election to establish the first Rwandan government. Gregoire Kayibanda won the election and his Hutu Emancipation Movement (Parmehutu) was now dominant over the once-dominated Tutsi society. In the following years, violence and competitioncontinued between the two groups for political dominance. As a result, many Tutsis fled to bordering countries such as Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Hutu government have been very oppressive toward Tutsis returning, and even question citizenship to those that already live in Rwanda. As history works itself out, Tutsi exiles would reorganize and initiate their movement, the RPF, in Uganda.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment