Holidays & Observances in Rwanda

Rwanda is a small country in central Africa. It has two major ethnic groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi, and ethnic violence between these groups has been a problem since independence. Rwanda is currently in a phase of peace, but it is recovering from years of strife and mass killings, so its holiday celebrations are molding and shaping constantly. Most of the population practices Christianity, but there is still a large portion who continue to believe in their traditional beliefs. Often these are mixed together. Islam is also common in some areas. An important part of every Rwandan holiday is music and dance, which are incorporated into the celebrations.