History of Rwanda to 1960

I decided to break down the history of Rwanda into two parts: pre-1960 and post-1960.  The main reason is that East African countries started to gain independence around 1960, which resulted in a paradigm shift in traditional East African politics, lifestyles, financial investments, and infrastructure. 

Rwanda has an oral tradition, so formal history was never written down before Europeans arrived.  The Portuguese arrived to the eastern Africa coast (present day Tanzania and Kenya) around 1500.  They retained general control of the area, including trade routes, until Arabs dominated the area starting in 1700.  Slave trade became in such high demand that slave traders started to take slaves from present day Rwanda in the 18^th century.  For the next 200 years, approximately 50,000 slaves would leave Zanzibar Island (where all Rwandan slaves would likely have been detained) per year. 

In 1890, Eastern Africa was broken up into German and British spheres of influences.  Germany took control of present day Rwanda and Burundi.  From 1890 to the World War I, Rwanda would be defined by colonial control which included new hospitals, roads, and missionaries.  This period would also be defined by famous African explorers.  Two of the most famous pairs of explorers would make their way around present day Rwanda: Burton and Speke (mainly seeking the source of the Nile) and Stanley and Livingstone (“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”). 

The next main shift occurred during World War I, when battles between the Germans and Belgians occurred on Rwandan soil.  After the war ended, a League of Nations mandate declared that Rwanda-Urundi be under the administrative control of Belgium.  This decision is a major reason why one of Rwanda’s national languages is French, why there are direct flights from Brussels to Kigali, and why the famous “Hotel Rwanda” was a hotel owned by a Belgian airline at the time of the genocide. 

The Belgian government decided to start a system of differentiating Rwandans into intelligent, ruling Rwandans (Tutsis) and lesser, laborer Rwandans (Hutus).  From 1935 until the genocide, Rwandans would have an identification card with a line specifically for their “ethnicity.”  These differentiations were based on head size, leg length, and other physical aspects. 

The 1950s were a period of independence in Eastern Africa.  Kenya, Uganda, and the Congo were all pushing for independence from colonial powers.  Increased resentment towards Tutsis continued due to their preferred status and different viewpoints on a path towards independence.  After the attempted assassination of Kayibanda (Hutu), the “Hutu Revolution” resulted in the deaths of approximately 100,000 Tutsis, with an additional 150,000 Tutsis fleeing to neighboring countries. 

Belgium decided to split Rwanda and Burundi, and Rwanda was officially independent in 1962.  While Rwanda was independent, the country did not change from its colonial past with ethnic matters.  Events that would unfold in the next 30 years would result in a course changing event that has altered Rwandans ever since.