Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Rwanda Local Customs
Search:
Home » Travel Guides » Africa » Rwanda » Local Customs

Rwanda Local Customs

Best Rwanda Travel DealsSponsored Links

African Adventure
Enjoy Exotic African Safari Tours- Hassle-free. Book Your Safari Today

See The Real Rwanda
Affordable Small Group Vacations. Great Range. Huge Fun. Book Online.

Kenya Tanzania Safaris
Custom, private safaris from $965 from Nat'l Geographic Top Outfitter

tutsi family - Rwanda
tutsi family
by hanspeter_W.
Learn the local customs of Rwanda. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Rwanda locals.
Map
Rwanda Local CustomsTips 1 - 10 of 13  
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Gacaca courts
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By husain on January 13, 2005
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by husain
  • Send to a Friend
  • Gacaca - Rwanda
    Gacaca
    by husain, 1 more photos
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Gacaca - meaning grass - courts were traditionally used by village communities who would gather on a patch of grass to resolve conflicts- usually between families, employing the heads of each household as judges.

    In an effort to speed up the process of justice, the post genocide scenario, Rwandans have chosen the Gacaca system.
    The courts often hand out reduced sentences to those who confess to their crimes. Since the process often takes places in the presence of the victims, it can also be a sort of reconciliation and healing for both parties.

    Though the system is said to be far from perfect, it is prefered to a conventional system where those in prison could have to wait for years and years without trial before their case comes up for hearing. Over 1,00,000 genocide accused are being held in Rwanda's prisons.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

    Visiting Rwanda?

    Read reviews about Rwanda Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Greetings
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By nsbm on June 28, 2005
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by nsbm
  • Send to a Friend
  • old friends..elephant trainer and tour guide @ ANP - Rwanda
    old friends..elephant trainer
    and tour guide @ ANP
    by nsbm
    Send Photo to a Friend
    When greeting someone you say uraho (u=oo) for formal and more than one its muraho both of which mean good day or hello
    Everyone seems to be related or know someone in rwanda..They all wherever they are even at road checks greet the army people!
    They start with the verbal greeting above followed by a handshake which is done by offering the right hand in a horizontal position and holding closer to the wrist rather than the palm, then they embrace lightly while touching cheeks right side first then left then right for a total of three times before exchanging verbal 'how are yous' back and forth before conversing....quite warm and non-intimidating compared to stoic western traditions

    Leave a Comment

  • Other Contact: african jacana tours, Kigali
    • Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Gacaca
  • Tip Rating:
  • By nsbm on June 28, 2005
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by nsbm
  • Send to a Friend
  • Gacaca - Rwanda
    Gacaca
    by nsbm
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Pronounced Gachacha, these are the local courts that were set up nationally to deal with the trial of genocide perpertraitors, (and there are thousands) at the village level. Judicial, elders and government representatives make up the tribunal with the defense self represented and judged by the locals. It has been without incident to date but those fearing persecution have sought refuge in neighbouring Burundi and Congo to avoid trial. Foreigners are not allowed to attend for obvious reasons but the billboards are self explanatory

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    School's over!
  • Tip Rating:
  • By nsbm on June 28, 2005
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by nsbm
  • Send to a Friend
  • school done! - Rwanda
    school done!
    by nsbm
    Send Photo to a Friend
    all over and in every corner primary schools and less common secondary shcools are found. Education is the name of the game and everyone is in to it........The girls all wear blue overalls and the boys cream shorts and top. At school break they can all be seen walking on the road side hopping, skipping and clutching their books tightly. As eric Williams the post-independence PM of Trinidad & Tobago said ' the future of the nation is in the children's schoolbag' in this case hands......

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Children as carers
  • Tip Rating:
  • By nsbm on June 28, 2005
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by nsbm
  • Send to a Friend
  • walking with big sister - Rwanda
    walking with big sister
    by nsbm
    Send Photo to a Friend
    In a country where their are over 300000 orphans some households are headed by elder sibling peers. All are involved in caring and nurturing from an early age and learn from adult example. A common sight is to see infants as old as 2years swaddled with a large colorful cloth on the backs of mothers and older sisters. As in most developing realms young females bear more burdens of society...literally in rwanda

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful

    Visiting Rwanda?

    Read reviews about Rwanda Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Water woes
  • Tip Rating:
  • By nsbm on June 28, 2005
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by nsbm
  • Send to a Friend
  • Water,water - Rwanda
    Water,water
    by nsbm
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Open water mains are provided every 4 to 5km thruout
    rwanda as there is no former sewer or pipeline networks. After school around 4pm everyday in every place the kids go in groups with their yellow plastic containers and line up to purchase for FRw20 (4cents) per vessel WATER. They then proceed to balance one on thier heads and two more carried in hand and someitmes have a baby in tow!!!!!!
    The bearers are often no bigger than the containers but the kids of Rwanda (most born after the genocide)
    are happy and look forward to this as an outing and social affair..it really is like going to the mall!!

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Traditional Musical Instruments
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By LBKesner on September 1, 2003
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by LBKesner
  • Send to a Friend
  • Showing off a musical instrument.... - Rwanda
    Showing off a musical
    instrument....
    by LBKesner
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Step out of your car, truck, or bus, and children come out of nowhere to greet you! The young boy is holding a traditional musical instrument.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Clean Water
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By LBKesner on September 1, 2003
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by LBKesner
  • Send to a Friend
  • Children carrying water home. - Rwanda
    Children carrying water
    home.
    by LBKesner
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Most homes we visited during our stay lacked a close well or running water. These children are bringing home well water from a nearby source, using plastic buckets.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Looks like School Sports
  • Tip Rating:
  • By Maggus on June 24, 2004
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by Maggus
  • Send to a Friend
  • Keeping the pace up - Rwanda
    Keeping the pace up
    by Maggus
    Send Photo to a Friend
    I was wondering why the kids were running in non-marked circles. Evidently this was the athletics lesson.

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Kid's amusement
  • Tip Rating:
  • Updated By Maggus on June 15, 2004
  • Email Me
  • Rwanda Page by Maggus
  • Send to a Friend
  • Dancing lessons in the garden - Rwanda
    Dancing lessons in the garden
    by Maggus
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Note: I had to hide behind a bush and take a quick approach when I wanted to take this picture of the kids dancing on a sunday afternoon. Never the less four of them spoted me...

    Leave a Comment

    Rate   Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    1 | 2
    More Rwanda Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 21 - Photos: 18
    Things To Do
    Tips: 43 - Photos: 42    		Nightlife
    Tips: 6 - Photos: 0
    Transportation
    Tips: 17 - Photos: 17    		Restaurants
    Tips: 9 - Photos: 2
    Shopping
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 0    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 8
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 0    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 11 - Photos: 4
    Local Customs
    Tips: 13 - Photos: 13    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 3 - Photos: 0
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 1    		General Tips
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 18

    More Rwanda Travel Deals

    Kigali Hotels
    Find Rooms at Top Hotels - Cheap with Orbitz Low Price Guarantee!

    hotels
    Discounts on Hotels, Activities & More. Book your vacation today!

    Rwanda hotels
    See The Real Africa At A Great Price

    Rwanda Genocide/Violence
    Want to Understand What Happened? GenoDynamics Can Help

    Sponsored Links

    Cheap hotels from
    Cheap flights from
    Cheap car rentals from
    Cheap cruises from
    Cheap vacations from




    Find:        Matching:  Advanced
    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Advertising on VirtualTourist |  Press Center |  Help |  Travel Tools |  VT Gear |  Local Merchant Login |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.