The Rwandan culture is a vibrant blend of tradition and modernity, with strong emphasis on community, family, and artistic expression. For travellers that have been to a number of countries, they will agree that each group of people is largely defined by their culture, traditions, beliefs and practices.
All these traditions are largely influenced by the history of the people and are carried on from generation to generation. Rwanda’s history is marked by shifts in power, colonial influence, and a devastating genocide.
Initially, the region was home to the Twa, Hutu, and Tutsi peoples. European colonization, first by Germany and then Belgium, further complicated the existing social structures. Independence in 1962 was followed by periods of violence and political instability, culminating in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a horrific event where Hutu extremists targeted the Tutsi population, and almost one million people were killed during this period.
After this incident, the country worked tirelessly to recover with emphasis on forgiveness and reconciliation. The way of life and culture of the present day Rwandans is largely influenced by the 1994 genocide and here are some cultural shocks to expect on your visit in Rwanda.
Staring: Rwandans have their signature staring phenomenon and visitors especially from Western cultures, may find the open and frequent staringh to be unsettling. It’s a common behaviour and not necessarily meant to be rude, but rather an expression of curiosity. When a Rwandan stares at you, there is a lot going on their mind for example “where is this person coming from,” “Oh my God she has beautiful hair and shoes,” “how long are they going to be around,” and so on and so forth.
Eating While Walking: In Rwanda, eating while walking is generally frowned upon as it’s considered unhygienic, unethical and disrespectful. Whereas in New York you’ll grab your cup of coffee and bagel from Starbucks and eat as you rush to the office, you may not do this freely in Rwanda.
You are expected to eat while sitting down. Also interestingly, it is considered uncouth to eat using your left hand. All food is eaten using the right hand and if you visit some homes, they do not use cutlery, but rather dig in with their bare hands.
Time and Punctuality: Rwandans are bad time keepers and may have a more relaxed attitude towards time compared to some Western cultures, which can lead to delays in appointments and meetings. A good example is if you’re invited to a wedding and your invitation says that the function starts at noon, trust that the first Rwandan guest will appear an hour late and majority will show up after 2 or three hours and the ceremony that should have ended at 4pm will stretch up 8pm.
Umuganda
It is not common in many countries to find citizens joining efforts to clean their streets. In Rwanda, they have what they call “Umuganda” which means “Coming together for a common purpose” and this is the community work day (General cleaning) which takes place every last Saturday of the month. This activity is mandatory for all Rwandans and failure to participate carries penalties. Most visitors also join in this activity as part of giving back to the Rwandan community. This tradition has enabled Rwanda to maintain her status as the cleanest country in Africa for over a decade now and this may be unexpected for some visitors.
Reserved Nature: Rwandans tend to be more reserved and less openly expressive than people in some other cultures, which can be perceived as quietness or shyness. For some visitors, they may find it unwelcoming.
Customer Service: Visitors may find customer service standards to be different from what they are accustomed to, with some businesses not prioritizing speed or personalized attention.
Dress Code: Rwanda is a very conservative country that values decency. In Rwanda, women are expected to dress modestly with dresses or skirts below knee level and less revealing blouses/tops. Adjusting to local dress codes, especially for women, might be necessary, with some attire considered inappropriate for certain settings.
Public display of affection: In the western countries, a couple will kiss/make out on the streets and everyone will go about their day. Try this in Rwanda! You’ll give Rwandans an even bigger reason to stare at you and this time it will be a judgemental stare. Rwandans believe that those acts of affection should only take place in the bedroom.
No smoking: Rwanda is a no smoking country and there are strict policies regarding smoking especially in public spaces with very heavy fines. It is also not easy to purchase cigarettes especially if you’re below 18.
Some restaurants may have smoking zones but they’ll not be marked. Always ask an attendant to show you the smoking areas to avoid making other guests uncomfortable or getting fined.
Tribal distinction: In Rwanda, it is considered a taboo to ask a Rwandan if they are Hutu, Tutsi or Twa. This is because the tragic genocide of 1994 was caused by Tribal disputes between the Hutu and the Tutsi.
After the genocide, the main agenda was reconciliation and it was agreed that there were no more Hutus and Tutsis but rather one tribe of Rwandans. When you ask a Rwandan if they are Hutu or Tutsi, it is a sign that you’re inciting violence so refrain from asking this.
Kwita Izina
This is the official gorilla naming ceremony that happens annually in Volcanoes NP every September. Traditionally, when a child was born, there was a naming ceremony where the father chose a name for the baby and festivities followed.
Kwita Izina is similar to this ceremony and it is done mainly for identification purposes and allocation of baby gorillas to their families. There are celebrations that follow after naming a gorilla like lots to eat and drink, traditional dances and fundraising for gorilla conservation.
Don’t ask about genocide: If you want peace with a Rwandan, do not ask them about the genocide. Foreigners may want to ask about genocide just out of curiosity but that is something you should never ask a Rwandan. This incident happened in 1994 and most of the survivors are still alive today. Most of these people suffer from PTSD because of the many slaughter that happened. Many of them watched their loved ones die tragically and the memories are still fresh in their minds. Genocide is a very sensitive topic that brings back all those memories and you may receive a rude response. If you want to know more about it, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and you’ll have all your questions answered.
By understanding and respecting these cultures, it will be easy for you to navigate, fit in, and potentially make some friends.
