Rwanda Country Profile

RWANDA FACTS & FIGURES HISTORY OF RWANDA

Capital Kigali . Early human settlement to what is Largest City Kigali current day Rwanda occurred around Kinyarwanda, English, Official Languages 8000 BC. Early inhabitants of clans French Latin included the Hutu, Tutsi and the Twa Official Script (Kinyarwanda/English/ people. French) . The Berlin Conference of 1884 declared Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Rwanda a territory of Germany, Geography (estimates) indicating the start of the colonial era. Population 11.2 million . Since World War I, Belgian forces took Pop. Density 445/km² Area 96,000 km² control of Rwanda extending into Post- Time Zone EST + 7 World War II. Rwandan independence Government came soon after in 1962. Prime Minister Paul Kagame . The Rwandan Genocide of ‘94 served as a turning point for the country, inducing Legislature Parliament more peacekeeping initiatives. Independence from 1962 . Modern day Rwanda serves as a hub for Belgium tourism and economy centered around Subst. Agriculture (Tea/Coffee) . Rwandan staples include Rwandan Public Holidays in 2017 plantains, pulses, sweet potatoes, beans and bananas. . New Years Day (Jan 1) Known for their high fiber. . Heroes Day (Feb 1) Many Rwandans do not eat . Genocide Memorial Day much meat unless for areas (Apr 7) near lakes where aquiculture is . Good Fri/Easter Mon possible (tilapia). (Apr 14/17) . National Dishes include: Ugali . Workers Day (May 1) (maize/water paste), Matoke . Eid Ul Fitr (Jun 25) (plantain based), Isombe . Independence Day (Jul 1) (cassava/fish). . Independence Day Holiday . Restaurants in Kigali eat (Jul 3) a variety of int. cuisine . Assumption of Mary (Aug 15) . Christmas (Dec 25) Language & Important Dates & Cuisine Music & Art Religion Holidays

. Rwanda’s principal language . Rwandan music and dance are is Kinyarwanda which is cornerstones of Rwandan spoken by the majority of festivals and ceremonies. Rwandans. . The most famous dance is . Due to colonial influences of divided into 3 components the Germans and Belgians, . Umushagiriro (women) both German and French were . Intore (men) introduced. French remains as . Ingoma (drums; an official language alongside men/women) English. . Traditional art can be found . Largest faith group in Rwanda throughout the country, is Roman Catholic, including including pottery, wood carving denominations of Protestantism and dung art. and Islam.