The Forgotten and Marginalised Indigenous People of Rwanda: The Batwa

The marginalisation of indigenous communities, including the Batwa people of Rwanda, is not an isolated phenomenon, as similar circumstances have been observed in countries such as DRC, Burundi, and Uganda both before and after the era of colonial rule. Among the key challenges faced by the Batwa is the lack of recognition of their traditional livelihoods as hunter-gatherers, a factor contributing to their persistent socioeconomic disadvantages. Even prior to the 1994 genocide, the Batwa were regarded as inferior to the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, often perceived as people dependent solely on the forests and swamplands for their subsistence, such as through pottery-making. Despite, acknowledging ethnic Tutsi and ethnic Hutu during genocide in 1994, the fate of the ethnic Batwa during that period is generally disregarded and poorly understood. Within Rwandan society, the Batwa people remain largely unseen and marginalised. Their experiences during the 1994 genocide are often...Show moreThe marginalisation of indigenous communities, including the Batwa people of Rwanda, is not an isolated phenomenon, as similar circumstances have been observed in countries such as DRC, Burundi, and Uganda both before and after the era of colonial rule. Among the key challenges faced by the Batwa is the lack of recognition of their traditional livelihoods as hunter-gatherers, a factor contributing to their persistent socioeconomic disadvantages. Even prior to the 1994 genocide, the Batwa were regarded as inferior to the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, often perceived as people dependent solely on the forests and swamplands for their subsistence, such as through pottery-making. Despite, acknowledging ethnic Tutsi and ethnic Hutu during genocide in 1994, the fate of the ethnic Batwa during that period is generally disregarded and poorly understood. Within Rwandan society, the Batwa people remain largely unseen and marginalised. Their experiences during the 1994 genocide are often overlooked in scholarly works and post- genocide literature, with only brief mentions of their suffering in footnotes in discussions about the broader genocide. Since the genocide in 1994, the Rwandan government has persistently refused to recognize the ethnic Batwa as an indigenous group deserving of specific protection, despite their status as Rwanda's most marginalised minority. In an attempt to achieve social reconciliation following the genocide, the government implemented the "national unity and reconciliation" policy in 1999. This policy aims to foster unity between the Hutu and Tutsi populations by explicitly rejecting ethnic identities believed to have contributed to the 1994 genocide, urging individuals to identify solely as Rwandan. Thus, this thesis aims to shed light on the marginalised status and experiences of the Batwa people of Rwanda, highlighting the historical context, challenges they face, their neglected role in the 1994 genocide, and the government's refusal to acknowledge them as an indigenous group in need of protection. By examining the Batwa's struggle for visibility and recognition within Rwandan society, this research seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of indigenous rights, social justice, and Rwanda’s post-genocide reconciliation efforts.Show less

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The Forgotten and Marginalised Indigenous People of Rwanda: The Batwa