Rwanda Local Customs

  Children in Rwanda
by MikeAtSea
 
  • Children in Rwanda
      Children in Rwanda
    by MikeAtSea
  • Children in Rwanda
      Children in Rwanda
    by MikeAtSea
  • Children in Rwanda
      Children in Rwanda
    by MikeAtSea
  • Mzungu!
      Mzungu!
    by MikeAtSea
  • Mzungu!
      Mzungu!
    by MikeAtSea
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

School's over!

by nsbm

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......

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Greetings

by nsbm

When greeting someone you say uraho (u=oo) for formal and more than one its muraho both of which mean good day or helloEveryone 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

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ID Cards

by husain

The former Belgian colonial government in Rwanda had introduced the concept of ID Cards for the Rwandans.These cards clearly stated whether the card-holder was a 'Muhutu', 'Mututsi', 'Mutwa'. This brought with it a fixed concept of group or racial identity. Something that was not so prevelant so far.The post-colonial government of Rwanda decided to retain this practice and many Hutu's in the government endorsed it too.The systematic killings that were a feature of the Rwandan genocide, were helped in a big way by this identity card system...At the Kigali Memorial Centre, there are a few ID cards on display. They were being carried by people who got killed during the days of the genocide, and still bear the bloodstains.

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Gacaca courts

by husain

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.

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Be friendly, shake hands with...

by Muzungu

Be friendly, shake hands with men although urban area women will likely do so as well. Most people speak French and English is widely spoken, Learn greetings in Rwandan. Men hold hands with other men if friends (THIS IS NOT A GAY THING) Study up on the Genocide

people

by hanspeter_W.

no matter how terrible the genocide of 1994 was...the people as well the Tutsis as the Hutus belong to the most friendly and most hospitable people i ever got to know

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Looks like School Sports

by Maggus

I was wondering why the kids were running in non-marked circles. Evidently this was the athletics lesson.

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Kid's amusement

by Maggus

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...

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Traditional Musical Instruments

by LBKesner

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.

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Clean Water

by LBKesner

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.

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Local Customs: Cities in Rwanda
  1. Kigali Local Customs
  2. Virunga Local Customs

More Cities in Rwanda

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi I'm unsure f this is the right forum..but I iwsh to see the silverbacks in rwanda or uganda next march.. Which is a better... 

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A: Hi kikili, Rwanda is the better place to see gorillas, but no matter which country you go, there is no such thing as a budget option when it comes to seeing the... 

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