The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 - 1183 Words

In April of 1994 a terrible event took place, one where approximately one-million people were brutally murdered on the basis of their ethnicity or if they opposed the regime. (Uvin, 2003). This terrible event occurred in Rwanda, and it is known as the Rwandan Genocide. Genocide can be described as a one sided mass killing in which the state or other authority intends to destroy a group, as that group and membership in it are identified by the perpetrator. (Hintjens, 1999) This is exactly what took place in Rwanda in 1994. In Rwanda the population was mostly Hutu (84%) and had two minorities, Tutsi (15%) and Twa (1%). (Hoex, 2010) The perpetrators of the genocide were the Hutu majority and the victims were the Tutsi. In order to†¦show more content†¦As the scholars said â€Å"invention of tradition,† is basically saying that these roles in the society at the time of the genocide had been constructed and it was not something that was primordial. Generation aft er generation this concept of the ethnic difference between the Hutu and Tutsi was more accepted and held to be true. The belief of this being true does not make it true, but just gives power who benefit from this belief. During the colonial period these distinctions became more important. When colonists came to Rwanda they imposed their racial hierarchal system. They said that the Tutsi were not even native Africans and came from a different land and that is why they had the right to rule over the Hutu majority. This was also necessary to the Belgians because it gave them a sense of order, where there were once about twelve clans in the area where they colonized. This way they did not have to learn the culture and make it simpler to rule because there were only two ethnic groups to manage. The Belgians imposed this story of the right to rule and how the two groups of people were different. This also led to the differences in the occupations that the groups were allowed to h old. The Tutsi were delegated the job of ruling, cattle, and military. In order to create this difference that was not really there before, they need a method to divide the people. They did so by the amount of cattle that the man had. If the man had more than ten heads ofShow MoreRelated Rwandan Genocide of 1994 Essays2528 Words   |  11 PagesThe Rwandan Genocide of 1994 lasted only for a brief period and lasted for approximately a hundred days. During that time, an estimated amount of 800 000 people were slaughtered. Beginning on April of 1994, massacres were held on a daily basis with the intent to eliminate an ethnic group known as the Tutsi by another ethnic group known as the Hutus. This genocide was overlooked by the United Nations, and the superpowers of the time offered very little or no assistance at all to Rwanda. The civilRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide Of 1994 Effect The Hutu And Tutsi1998 Words   |  8 Pagesinvestigation will seek to answer the question â€Å"H ow Did the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 Effect the Hutu and Tutsi?† I chose this question because last year I read the book Left to Tell and I wanted to know more about the two different types of groups, the Hutus and the Tutsis. This was and still is an important topic because many died that day just for belonging to a specific group. This topic shows how much our world has changed since 1994. In order to answer my historical investigation question, IRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide Began On April 6Th 1994 Culminating1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rwandan Genocide began on April 6th 1994 culminating in the killing of an estimated 800,000 Hutus and their sympathizers. After it became apparent that the Rwandan government was not willing or able to protect it s citizens, the question became why did the international community do nothing to intervene. 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I was thinking about going back by twoRead MoreRe Writing History And Rwandan Identity Through The Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre Essay1473 Words   |  6 PagesRe-writing History and Rwandan Identity Through the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre In April 2004, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre opened to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide. Peacefully overlooking the city of Kigali, the Centre seeks to be a place of remembrance and honor for survivors as well as a step towards creating Rwanda’s post-genocide identity. Rwanda has sought to find its place politically, socially, and in memory through this westernized approach to remembranceRead MoreInternational Community Is Culpable For The Rwandan Genocide1376 Words   |  6 PagesFrom April to June 1994, in a mere 100 days, approximately 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered during the Rwandan genocide (Destexhe, 1994). The international community failed to prevent or stop this slaughter. 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The Twa was a small Pygmy group that made up 1% of the population (unitedhumanrightsRead MoreInformative Speech on Rwandan Genocide Outline1300 Words   |  6 PagesBen Johnson Intro to Comm. 1320-04 11/8/12 Rwandan Genocide General Purpose: To Inform Specific Purpose: To share with the class that the Rwandan Genocide was a brutal genocide that most people know little about. Thesis: The Rwandan Genocide is one of the lesser known, quickest, and most inhumane genocides this world has ever seen, and it is still affecting the people of Rwanda till this day. Organizational Pattern: Topical Introduction I. Attention Getter: