Ethic Group Conflict Hutu and Twa Tribes

Essay by honeylove130University, Bachelor's January 2009

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Conflict leads to destruction and arises when people have a different perception of goals, beliefs, values or feelings. Conflict is important to humanity and important to building peace (Shyaka, n.d.). Issues associated with conflict are not easy to understand. Because of problems within political systems, social perception and relationships, countries are destined to ruins resulting in violence that can lead to genocides as seen in Rwanda affecting the population within.

Several ethnic groups make up the population within Rwanda, two of which are Hutu and Twa (Batwa). The Hutu tribe is the largest ethnic group and Twa is the smallest. Hutu and Twa of Central Africa continue to have conflict from ethnic differences causing war resulting in numerous deaths. Although both share cultural similarities and language, they are divided by differences.

The Twa tribe was among the first settlers of the areas. Within the Twa, also known as the Batwa tribe or pygmies, many tribesmen continue to live according to their original cultures of living in the forest practicing hunting and gathering.

Sometimes the Batwa are called the Twa but they are both one in the same. Their livelihood, medicinal practices and culture depend on and are drawn from the forest in which they live. The forest is a social, cultural, and spiritual place for the Twa people. Many of the ceremonies are held within the forest. They see the forest as their lifeline, guardian and protector (Matthews, 2006).

With the farming and grazing of the Hutu and other tribes, the Twa population slowly decreased. The Twa were helpless in fighting back because of their inferior postion and small size. The customs of the Twa were perceived as primitive to other tribes (Exploring the Environment, 2005).

Similarities between the Hutu and Twa begin with the spoken language, Kinya-rwanda and...