POPULATION 7,398,074
ROMAN CATHOLIC 65 percent
AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS 23 percent
PROTESTANT 10 percent
MUSLIM 1 percent
OTHER 1 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

The Rwandese Republic, located in Central Africa, is surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. The land is green and hilly. In pre-colonial times Rwanda was a land of migration: cattle-herders (called Tutsi) and cultivators (Hutu) displaced the original inhabitants, who were hunter-gatherers (Twa). The group's indigenous religions emphasized rituals to benefit these occupations. The Tutsi and Hutu together created an ubwiru (centralized ruling institution) based on Hutu monarchical symbols, including the ideas of a divine kingship, a sacred fire, royal drums, agricultural rituals, and royal burial customs. The ubwiru operated through a clan system; 14 major and many minor clans included members of all three occupational groups (Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa). Clan members sought protection from enemies, paying their patrons (clan leaders, who were cattle owners...