Becoming “Historically Marginalized Peoples”: examining Twa perceptions of boundary shifting and re-categorization in post-genocide Rwanda

Abstract

ABSTRACT The overwhelming majority of academic literature on pre- and post-genocide Rwanda focuses on the Hutu-Tutsi duality while resigning the narratives of the Twa to a mere footnote. From their nomadic lifestyle as hunter-gathers, to their experiences of conflict and genocide, to their perceptions of political transition and post-conflict nation-building, little is known about the lived realities of Rwanda’s most marginal minority. This article addresses this gap by exploring the impact of the government of Rwanda’s national unity project on the Twa using survey, interview and focus group data with Twa youth, community leaders and villagers. Borrowing from Andreas Wimmer’s taxomony of boundary-making strategies, it shows that despite state-led efforts to unmake Twa identity by blurring ethnic boundaries and recategorizing the Twa as “Historically Marginalized Peoples”, Twa have a strong attachment to their identity and culture and challenge government efforts to re-draw boundaries through everyday acts of resistance.