“In 1933-34, the Belgians conducted a census in order to issue ‘ethnic’ identity cards, which labelled every Rwandan as either Hutu (85%) of Tutsi (14%) or Twa (1%). The identity cards made it virtually impossible for Hutus to become Tutsis, and permitted the Belgians to perfect the administration of an apartheid system rooted in the myth of Tutsi superiority… Whatever Hutu and Tutsi identity may have stood for in the pre-colonial state no longer mattered; the Belgians had made ‘ethnicity’ the defining feature of Rwandan existence.”
Quote by Philip Gourevitch
Author
Philip Gourevitch
Philip Gourevitch, born on January 1, 1961, is an American author known for his in-depth investigative reporting and literary narrative. His work, particularly his coverage of conflicts in Africa, has garnered widespread acclaim. more
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