RELIGION:
Beginning in about 1880, Roman Catholic missionaries
arrived in the Great Lakes region. Later, when German forces occupied the area
during World War I, the
conflict and efforts for Catholic conversion became
more pronounced. As a result,
today most people in Rwanda and Burundi are Christians.
However, some traditional beliefs still survive. These include the belief in a
distant creator called Imaana. This god has the power to grant wealth
and fertility. The king shares in this power. It can be seen in his sacred
fire, royal drums, and rituals. Spirits of dead relatives, called abazima ,
carry messages between Imaana and the human world. However, the abazima
may bring bad luck to those who do not respect them. People offer gifts to
protect themselves from the abazima. They also try to learn the spirits'
wishes by seeing fortune-tellers.
FOLK
LAW:
Tutsi folklaw includes poetry,
proverbs, folk tales, riddles, and myths. Some Tutsis used to know the names of
their ancestors at least six generations back. Many believed they were
descended from a mythical king named
Gihanga. One
popular folk tale tells the story of Sebgugugu. He was a poor man who was
helped by God. God performed miracles to provide food for him and his family.
However, each time Sebgugugu wanted more. Through his greed, Sebgugugu lost
everything in the end.
MAJOR
HOLIDAYS:
National
holidays include Independence Day, May Day, New Year's Day, and the major
Christian holidays. The Tutsis' traditional holidays were celebrated with
dancing and sacred drumming. These holidays are no longer observed.
RITES
OF PASSAGE:
Hutu
and Tutsi rites of passage are very similar. The first one, the naming
ceremony, takes place seven days after a child's birth. The tradition is that, when a mother gives birth to a baby, they must stay in a separate house alone for seven days. The child is then named on the seventh day during the naming ceremony. There is no ritual other than marriage to mark the beginning of adulthood. Marriage
is made legal by payment of the bride wealth. It is paid by the groom's family
to the bride's family because they are losing her labor. The bride price is mainly in heads of cattle, goats and traditional beer. The bride has to undergo a series of traditional events to prepare her for the marriage. For example, sleeping in separate rooms and having her body washed with herbs and milk to purify her. Death
is marked by prayers, speeches, and limits on many activities. Close family
members are supposed to avoid physical labor and sex after a death. When the
mourning period ends, the family holds a ritual feast.
CULTURAL
HERITAGE:
Royal
dancing and drumming groups performed for the kings of Rwanda and Burundi. For
rituals, two dozen tall drums were placed around a central drum. The drummers
moved around the drums in a circle. Each one took a turn beating the central
drum. This style of drumming is still practiced, and it has been recorded. Singing,
dancing, and drumming are important in rural life. People compose many kinds of
songs—hunting songs, lullabies, and ibicuba (songs praising cattle).
CRAFTS
AND HOBBIES:
Traditional
crafts of Rwanda and Burundi include basket weaving, pottery, woodworking,
metal working, and jewelry making.
References
References
Author Unknown
n.d. Brazil to Congo, Republic of >>Tutsi. Countries and Their Cultures. Electronic document,
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Brazil-to-Congo-Republic-of/Tutsi.html, accessed March 23rd.
Landess, Harriet.
2011. Society and Culture: The Rwandese Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. The Examiner. Electronic document, http://www.examiner.com/article/society-and-culture-the-rwandese-hutu-tutsi-and-twa, accessed March 23rd.
Citron, Bob
2011. Royal Watutsi Dancers. Youtube.
MusicalArk.
2013. Lama (Tustsi Tribe) [Love Song]. Youtube.
n.d. Brazil to Congo, Republic of >>Tutsi. Countries and Their Cultures. Electronic document,
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Brazil-to-Congo-Republic-of/Tutsi.html, accessed March 23rd.
Landess, Harriet.
2011. Society and Culture: The Rwandese Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. The Examiner. Electronic document, http://www.examiner.com/article/society-and-culture-the-rwandese-hutu-tutsi-and-twa, accessed March 23rd.
Citron, Bob
2011. Royal Watutsi Dancers. Youtube.
MusicalArk.
2013. Lama (Tustsi Tribe) [Love Song]. Youtube.
I am glad to know that although the Tutsi tribe has adopted the Christian religion, amongst other religions, they still manage to preserve some of their traditional beliefs. It is refreshing when an indigenous tribe maintains some of their uniqueness after colonization. This uniqueness can also be seen in their folk law stories. Coming form the Caribbean, I can appreciate the significance of folk law in traditional cultures and how it provides a connection between the people, their ancestors and their culture.
ReplyDeleteThe process before the naming ceremony is also very interesting. As a person who was raised in the Western world it is hard to imagine being separated from your new-born child for a week; however, one must not think that way. This is an old tradition amongst Rwandese tribes and would not have continued for so many generations if all of the babies were dying within the week of separation. I appreciate, and find quite beautiful, the second tradition mentioned of washing of the bride with herbs and milk. It seems very wholesome.
Lastly, I would imagine that it would be mesmerizing to see the Tutsi people perform their traditional dances and chanting in person. They are said to be very tall but also very graceful. One can see and hear the grace and talent of these towering people in the two videos posted. It is truly something to admire. Although the culture and traditions of the Tutsi people are very distinct to Western culture, with an open mind it is easy to see the beauty in their diversity.
I do appreciate your comments Stephanie. Mostly because you use some of your emic perspective and acknowledge our own western biases. This is right on the dot, and regarding your ethnographic post and your references, you got them. Great job, and you are good to go for this PA. Thank you for the responsible work. My bad for taking so long in responding. Congrats!
DeleteI would also like to add that it is very important to be wary of ethnocentrism when learning about people from different cultural groups. People of the Western world have a bad habit of labeling indigenous tribes as "Primitive" and considering ourselves to be better or "Civilized". It is not appropriate to label ethnic groups because they are different. As cultural anthropologists we must learn about the Tutsi and other tribes with an open mind and apply cultural relativism. Every culture deserves respect as they are fellow human beings and we should use our time and energy trying to understand the culture and why they do certain things instead of wasting it by judging and labeling them.
DeleteWhen you talk about being a person who was raised in the western world, maybe you can incorporate course content here. How about mentioning ethnocentrism, and cultural relativism. Tomorrow, during your talk, try to use some course content, and later on in the afternoon, you can also add it here. I will be doing the final evals for this in the late afternoon. Thanks for the good work.
ReplyDelete