Rwanda



Present Day [|www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/rwanda_map2.htm]

The population of Rwanda is 8,722,000. Their life expectancy is 40 years of age and seventy percent of their population is literate. Their four most predominant languages are Kinyarwanda, French, English, Kiswahili. They mainly practice Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Adventistism and Islam. Their currency is the Rwandan franc. The capitol is Kigali and the total land mass of the country is 26,338 kilometers.
 * __Statistics__**

__**Climate**__ The average rainfall of Rwanda is 110-200 mm. per month. They experience their rainy seasons during the months of March, May, October, and November. The average temperature is 24.6-27.6 Degrees Celcius. Their hottest months are the months of August, September.

__**Land**__ The altitude randes from 1000-4500 meters above sea level. The highest point of the land is Karisimbi volcano at 4,507 meters. The main supporting bodies of water are Lake Kivu, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ihema, Lake Bulera, Lake Ruhondo, and Lake Mugesera. The vegetation of the land ranges form dense forests in the North-West to a tropical savannah in the East. The main national parks and animal reserves are Akagera and Virunga Volcanoes National Parks. the-river-church.com/africaiscalling/images/rwandamap.jpg

__**Religion**__ In present day Rwanda 65% of the population is Roman Catholic and 9% is Protestant. Many Rwandan's practice their own indigenous beliefs while at the same time practicing Christianity. The second most dominant religion is Islam which comprises 1% of the total population. The Catholic Church was originally introduced by German and Belgian colonists. Many Rwandan's believe that the church was the cause of the rise of the Hutu tribe over the Tutsi tribe. The indigenous Rwandan religion believes that a central spirit called Imana is the at the center of religious ideas. This spirit can only be called called upon with the help of intermediares. They believe firmly in the existence of the spirit even after death. Because of this belief, they show great respect to the deceased.

__**Tribes**__ The three main tribes of Rwanda are the Hutu, Tutsi, and the Twa. The Tutsi identify with the cattle, Hutu with the land, and the Twa with the forests. The government was traditionally a monarchy but after it faltered the Tutsi minority gained control. The Hutu and the Tutsi would traditionally trade cattle, but the system of cattle vassalage was abolished in the 1950's. In 1962 the Hutu's gained independance and the control of the governemt. They then sought to portray Rwanda as being only Hutu. Catholicism became one of the main symbols of the new government. The Tutsi eventually regained control in 1994 and is trying today to restore the traditional monarchy. People of Rwanda [] __**History**__ In ancient times the Tutsi reached the reigion of Rwanda and dominated over the Hutu. Records of history are found starting around the reign of Rwabugiri who ruled in 1860. He ruled on a mainly fuedal basis with the Tutsi being the aristocracy and the Hutu below them. The first European explorer to reach Rwanda was the German oun von Gotzen in 1894. Then in 1895 their king died leaving the country in turmoil. The Germans then came in and claim Rwanda and Burundi as one colony called Ruanda-Urundi. The German control was not very extensive and ends in 1914 during WWI. Belgium took control of the colony in 1924. The Belgians observed the difference between the Hutu and the Tutsi and making that thw whole basis of their colonial system. The Hutu are forced to do manual labor with the Tutsi supervising. In 1933 the peopl have to carry a racial identity card. This sparked much violence between the two groups. In the late 1950's there was a rush for independance. In 1957 the Hutu leaders published a Hutu Manifesto to prepare their supporters for the coming violence. In 1959 violence sparks and results in the Hutu camapign against the Tutsi. In July of 1962 Rwanda gained their independence from Belgium. The Hutu then took power over the Tutsi's. In 1994 there was a mass genocide of the Tutsi's. Around 800,000 Rwandan's were killed in this year. The country then tried to achieve racial equality in the government. They first abolished the identity cards. The violence though continued through the rest of the 90's and still continues today. Map of Ruanda-Urundi []

__**Pictures**__ __**[]**__ __**[]**__ __**[]**__ __**[]**__ Works Cited "Culture of Rwanda - Traditional, History, People, Traditions, Women, Beliefs, Food, Customs, Family, Social, Dress, Marriage, Men, Life, Wedding, Population, Rituals, History and Ethnic Relations." //Countries and Their Cultures//. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. . "Rwanda Basic Facts." //[AACB]//. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. . "Rwanda Facts, Rwanda Flag -- National Geographic." //Travel & Cultures -- National Geographic//. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. . "Rwanda Religion." //World Map, Map of the World//. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. . “HISTORY OF RWANDA.” // HistoryWorld – History and Timelines. //Web. 01 Dec. 2010. [|http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainText Histories.asp?historyid=ad24]