Line #20 UsefulNotes/Rwanda


1	[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rwanda-map1_7334.gif]]
2	->''"It is not rare, even today, to hear Rwandans argue that a war is necessary to wipe out an excess of population and to bring numbers into line with the available land resources...the people whose children had to walk barefoot to school killed the people who [[TheSocialDarwinist could buy shoes for theirs.]]"''
3	-->--'''Jared Diamond''', ''Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive''
4
5	Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda ('''Kinyarwanda:''' ''Repubulika y'u Rwanda'', '''Swahili:''' ''Jamhuri ya Rwanda'', '''French:''' ''République du Rwanda''), is a highland country in East UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}, neighbored by UsefulNotes/{{Uganda}} in the North, UsefulNotes/{{Burundi}} in the South, UsefulNotes/{{Tanzania}} in the East, and the UsefulNotes/DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo in the West. It also borders Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes, to its west. Like Burundi, the country's territory is tiny compared to its neighbors, but it hosts an impressive number of people for its size; 12.3 million people in 26,338 square kilometer of area (470 people per square kilometer). For comparison, the DR Congo is seven times more populous, but is ''89'' times larger. That makes it the continent's second most densely-populated country, after UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}}.
6
7	The country is probably best known in the world for its [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War extremely bloody civil war]] in the early [[TheNineties 1990s]], or rather, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_genocide the genocide]] that happened during it. The civil war claimed around 7,500 lives, but the genocide had casualties more than a hundred times that; it's estimated that up to 1 million lives perished during the event.
8
9	So why did they happen? The conflict can be traced to historical hostilities between the country's two major ethnicities, Hutus and Tutsis. Although "ethnicity" is not quite the right word; the distinction is very slippery, but the difference might be a bit closer to "Caste" or a distinction between "Common" and "Noble"--even before colonization. The two have lived in the same society and have spoken the same language since the dawn of an Imperial Tutsi Dynasty that once expanded over the region, forcing the conquered peoples into a subservient caste. The empire lasted for centuries even after Europeans came in and even left, the Tutsis were historically a dominant minority, ruling over the whole population and typically getting the best jobs (although this isn't to say that there weren't plenty of impoverished Tutsis and rich Hutus).
10
11	The original kingdom fell under colonisation of the Germans (one of the leftovers they had to accept because most of the continent was taken by the other powers when the [[UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany German Empire]] was formed) until UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, when UsefulNotes/{{Belgium}} invaded and took control of the zone. Both of them ruled the country by proxy, leaving in place the old Rwandan monarchy and Tutsi aristocracy. Both group of colonisers decided to encourage the split between Hutus and Tutsis, and even in some cases actively fanned the hostilities between the two, [[DivideAndConquer believing that dividing the population against itself was an effective way to keep them under control]]. Even after the kingdom split into Rwanda and Burundi, the situation kept the same, except for the escalating violence from the Hutu. Things changed in 1959, when the Hutu revolted; in 1961, they deposed the King and installed a republic with a Hutu president. Still, the Tutsis retained many positions of power and influence until 1973, when Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, took power in a coup and they turned the tables, leading the violence and discrimination against the Tutsi.
12
13	Things got even worse when some rebel Tutsis formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), starting a civil war that fell into a stalemate, forcing the president to sign some accords. Unfortunately, worse came to worst and Habyarimana's plane was shot down, killing both him and Burundi's president, Cyprien Ntaryamira (also a Hutu). Soon after that (a few hours, as a matter of fact) started a murderous frenzy of Hutus, killing any Tutsis or moderate Hutus they found during a period of about 100 days while the Western powers just stood there without doing anything (the recent failure of the pacification mission in UsefulNotes/{{Somalia}} dissuaded them of going to another African country). In fact, the genocide seemed so well planned and organized because it was actually planned way before by the government and the military, and it is suspected by some [[ThanatosGambit that Habyarimana's death was deliberate to give them an excuse to start it]].
14
15	The genocide ended when the RPF managed to take control of the country and, while they did engaged in revenge against the Hutus, today things are more peaceful. This peace, so to speak, was achieved mainly by exporting the problem: both Tutsis and Hutus exiled themselves in neighboring Zaire (today's DR Congo) and started fighting there, a leading cause of UsefulNotes/TheCongoWars.
16
17	Politically, the country is an authoritarian state, with the current President Paul Kagame having been ruling since 2000 after winning three consecutive elections, the third of which was made possible when, two years earlier, the parliament modified the constitution so the president can run for three terms ([[BlatantLies totally not a coincidence]]).
18
19	Between the Hutus and Tutsis there lies a third ethnic group. The Twas are a pygmy people, remnants of the region's earliest settlers before the Bantu migration of the 1st millennium BCE. Due to racism, they have been historically stomped upon by both Tutsis and Hutus; not only they fell victim of collateral damage during the genocide, but also they've been marginalized by the government.
20
21	!!Rwanda in the media:
22
23	* ''Film/HotelRwanda''. It tells the story of [[BadassPacifist Paul Rusesabagina]], a hotel manager who protected as many Tutsis and moderate Hutus in his hotel as he could from the genocide.
24	* ''Kinyarwanda'' (named after the native language of the country, talked by the three ethnic groups) is another film about the genocide, though this one focuses more on individual stories.
25	* ''Film/SometimesInApril'' chronicles the lives of two Hutu brothers during the genocide.
26	* ''Literature/ShakeHandsWithTheDevil'', a book of Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire about the failure of the UN to stop the genocide.
27	* ''Film/GorillasInTheMist'' tells the story of naturalist Dian Fossey in Rwanda while working with gorillas.
28	* ''Series/TopGear'' briefly passed through Rwanda on their trip to find the source of the Nile River. Jeremy Clarkson also mentions the horrific genocide from decades earlier.
29	* In the ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' episode "Filibuster", Tom has to deal with his girlfriend from Doctors Without Borders going to Rwanda. He mistakenly thinks this is a "vacation" and complains that "if I know anything about Rwanda, and I don't, I bet it's full of rich guys who will buy her whatever she wants."
30	* [[Creator/DonRosa Don Rosa's]] Disney comic "The Crocodile Collector" has WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck and his nephews finding the source of the Nile in Rwanda
31	* Belgian singer Music/{{Stromae}} is half-Rwandan, which sometimes appears in his work.
32	** "bâtard", which is about BlackAndWhiteMorality, has a line which translates as "Are you Hutu or Tutsi?"
33	** Indirectly in "Papaoutai", as the song deals with issues caused by his DisappearedDad, who was very absent during his whole life, then his death during the Rwandan genocide completely prevent them to mend their relation in the future.
34	* American metalcore band Fit for a King have stated that their song "Stacking Bodies" is about the genocide.
35
36	!! Relevant works from Rwanda include:
37	* Myth/GreatLakesBantuMythology
38	----
39	[[AC:The Rwandan flag]]
40	https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rwanda_flag_7521.png
41	->In 2001 the government replaced the red-yellow-green flag of Rwanda (itself using the UsefulNotes/{{Ethiopia}}n variant of the Pan-African colors) due to its association with the genocide. This change was meant to symbolize a more optimistic direction for Rwanda; the upper half is colored blue for happiness and peace; the lower half's yellow and green stripes symbolizes economic progress and hope of prosperity, respectively; and the golden sun on the upper right quarter symbolizes enlightenment.
42	----
43	[[AC:The Rwandan national anthem]]
44
45	->Rwanda nziza Gihugu cyacu
46	->Wuje imisozi, ibiyaga n'ibirunga
47	->Ngobyi iduhetse gahorane ishya.
48	->Reka tukurate tukuvuge ibigwi
49	->Wowe utubumbiye hamwe twese
50	->Abanyarwanda uko watubyaye
51	->Berwa, sugira, singizwa iteka.
52
53	->Horana Imana, murage mwiza
54	->Ibyo tugukesha ntibishyikirwa;
55	->Umuco dusangiye uraturanga
56	->Ururimi rwacu rukaduhuza
57	->Ubwenge, umutima,amaboko yacu
58	->Nibigukungahaze bikwiye
59	->Nuko utere imbere ubutitsa.
60
61	->Abakurambere b'intwari
62	->Bitanze batizigama
63	->Baraguhanga uvamo ubukombe
64	->Utsinda ubukoroni na mpatsibihugu
65	->Byayogoje Afurika yose
66	->None uraganje mu bwigenge
67	->Tubukomeyeho uko turi twese.
68
69	->Komeza imihigo Rwanda dukunda
70	->Duhagurukiye kukwitangira
71	->Ngo amahoro asabe mu bagutuye
72	->Wishyire wizane muri byose
73	->Urangwe n'ishyaka, utere imbere
74	->Uhamye umubano n'amahanga yose
75	->Maze ijabo ryawe riguhe ijambo.
76
77	--
78
79	->Rwanda, nchi yetu nzuri na yenye
80	->kupendwa na milima, maziwa na volkano
81	->Nchi ya Mama, ingejazwa furaha kila wakati
82	->Sisi watoto wako wote: Abanyarwanda
83	->Wacha tuimbe mng'ao wako na tutangaze ukweli wako wa hali ya juu
84	->Wewe, kifua cha mama yetu sisi sote
85	->Ungeweza kupendwa milele, mafanikio na funika sifa.
86
87	->Urithi wenye thamani, kwamba Mungu analinda kwako
88	->Ulijaza sisi bidhaa zenye bei kubwa
89	->Tamaduni yetu ya kawaida hututambulisha
90	->Lugha yetu moja inatuunganisha Kwamba akili zetu,
91	->dhamiri zetu na vikosi vyetu Kukujaza utajiri anuwai
92	->Kwa maendeleo yasiyokoma tena.
93
94	->Wazee wetu wenye nguvu
95	->Walijitolea miili na roho
96	->mbali na kukufanya wewe kuwa taifa kubwa
97	->Ulishinda nira ya ukoloni-ubeberu ambayo imeharibu
98	->Afrika kabisa na furaha yako ya uhuru wako
99	->huru imepatikana ambayo kila mara tutatetea.
100
101	->Kudumisha hii Cape, Mpendwa Rwanda,
102	->Kudumu, tunajitolea kwa ajili yako Ili amani itawale nchi nzima
103	->Kwamba uko huru na kizuizi chochote
104	->Kwamba uamuzi wako unakodisha maendeleo
105	->Kwamba una uhusiano mzuri na nchi zote
106	->Na kwamba hatimaye kiburi chako kinastahili heshima yako.
107
108	--
109
110	->Rwanda, notre beau et cher pays
111	->Paré de collines, de lacs et de volcans
112	->Mère-patrie, sois toujours comblée de bonheur
113	->Nous tous tes enfants: les Rwandais
114	->Chantons ton éclat et proclamons tes hauts faits
115	->Toi, Giron maternel de nous tous
116	->Sois à jamais admiré, prospère et couvert d’éloges.
117
118	->Précieux héritage, que Dieu te protège
119	->Tu nous as comblés de biens inestimables
120	->Notre culture commune nous identifie
121	->Notre unique langue nous unifie
122	->Que notre intelligence, notre conscience et nos forces
123	->Te comblent de richesses diversifiées
124	->Pour un développement sans cesse renouvelé.
125
126	->Nos valeureux aïeux
127	->Se sont donnés corps et âmes
128	->Jusqu’à faire de toi une grande Nation
129	->Tu as eu raison du joug colonialo-impérialiste
130	->Qui a dévasté l’Afrique tout entière
131	->Et te voici aise de ton indépendance souveraine
132	->Acquis que sans cesse nous défendrons.
133
134	->Maintiens ce cap, Rwanda bien-aimé
135	->Debout, nous nous engageons pour toi
136	->Afin que la paix règne dans tout le pays
137	->Que tu sois libre de toute entrave
138	->Que ta détermination engage le progrès
139	->Qu’excellent tes relations avec tous les pays
140	->Et qu’enfin ta fierté te vaille estime.
141
142	--
143
144	->Rwanda, our beautiful and dear country
145	->Adorned of hills, lakes and volcanoes
146	->Motherland, would be always filled of happiness
147	->Us all your children: Abanyarwanda
148	->Let us sing your glare and proclaim your high facts
149	->You, maternal bosom of us all
150	->Would be admired forever, prosperous and cover of praises.
151
152	->Invaluable heritage, that God protects to you
153	->You filled us priceless goods
154	->Our common culture identifies us
155	->Our single language unifies us
156	->That our intelligence, our conscience and our forces
157	->Fill you with varied riches
158	->For an unceasingly renewed development.
159
160	->Our valorous ancestors
161	->Gave themselves bodies and souls
162	->As far as making you a big nation
163	->You overcame the colonial-imperialistic yoke
164	->That has devastated Africa entirely
165	->And has your joy of your sovereign independence
166	->Acquired that constantly we will defend.
167
168	->Maintain this cape, beloved Rwanda,
169	->Standing, we commit for you
170	->So that peace reigns countrywide
171	->That you are free of all hindrance
172	->That your determination hires progress
173	->That you have excellent relations with all countries
174	->And that finally your pride is worth your esteem.
175	----
176	[[AC:Government]]
177	* Unitary dominant-party presidential constitutional republic
178	** President: Paul Kagame
179	** Prime Minister: Édouard Ngirente
180	----
181	[[AC:Miscellaneous]]
182	* '''Capital and largest city:''' Kigali
183	* '''Population:''' 12,374,397
184	* '''Area:''' 26,338 km² (10,169 sq mi) (144th)
185	* '''Currency''': Rwandan franc ([=FRw=]) (RWF)
186	* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' RW
187	* '''Country calling code:''' 250
188	* '''Highest point:''' Mount Karisimbi (4507 m/14,787 ft) (33rd)

Context UsefulNotes / Rwanda