This week has been filled with orientation activities in Kigali. We have done everything from a scavenger hunt to lesson planning instruction. On Tuesday, Ben Mateyko came to speak with us about Rwandan history. We knew it going to be intense when he walked across the room to shut the door.
Ben started with the first Rwandan dynasty in 1350. The common origin myth is that when the Tutsi’s arrived in the area with cows, the Hutu and Twa were already there. The Hutu asked the Tutsi where he came from, the Tutsi said heaven. Thus, the Tutsi became the ruling class. A lot of my books had said that Tutsi and Hutu were changeable and were based on wealth more than tribal identity, but Ben said this is untrue. He also brought up the contradiction in the current government. They have outlawed the use of Hutu or Tutsi, people cannot identify themselves or others. They also put forth that the identities never existed, but yet they commemorate the genocide which was committed against Tutsis. In regards to the Belgian colonizers, Ben said “If there was something to choose, I would not choose the Belgians”
When Ben began to discuss the specifics of the genocide, he started reading dates in a low almost monotone voice, whereas before, he had been candid and animated. He brought up the French direct involvement in the violence, saying they bought machetes for Hutu Power. But he also quietly condemned the U.S. and other countries for “the sin of omission” and the media who sat in Kigali watching people being killed.
At the end, we were able to ask questions. One was about the current relations. He said that Rwandan’s are still very much identifying themselves in private according to their tribal identities. He said, people might be friendly in school and in public but would intermingle on any deeper levels. I wrote down some direct quotes that are pretty powerful.
On H vs. T relations:
“There is now a culture of suspicion”
“It is like a volcano at peace”
“If you give me a microphone, I will say we are all one Rwanda”
We also had headmaster Martin Masabo come to speak to us about the Rwandan school system. My internet is about to expire so I have to go but quickly here are some facts. There is universal primary school now and by 2015 there will be 9 years of universal education. By 2011 the goal is to have all classes in English.
“Education will help them avoid another genocide. Maybe if they have good education, then we will not think to kill each other again.”
A common feature of colonial administrations was to choose one group, usually a smaller group, and train members of it to assist the colonial power. This created an educated and powerful class that was unrepresentative of the society as a whole. The Tamils in Sri Lanka are one example, as are the Tutsi. Divide and conquer.
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