Tutsi
The Tutsi (/ˈtʊtsi/), also called Watusi, Watutsi or Abatutsi (Kinyarwanda pronunciation: [ɑ.βɑ.tuː.t͡si]), are an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. They are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group and the second largest of three main ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi (the other two being the largest Bantu ethnic group Hutu and the Pygmy group of the Twa).
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Burundi | 1.7 million (14% of the total population) |
| Rwanda | 1–2 million (9%–15% of the total population) |
| Languages | |
| Kinyarwanda, Kirundi | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (80%), Islam (5%) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Rwanda-Rundi peoples | |
Historically, the Tutsi were pastoralists and filled the ranks of the warriors' caste. Before 1962, they regulated and controlled Rwandan society, which was composed of Tutsi aristocracy and Hutu commoners, utilizing a clientship structure. They occupied the dominant positions in the sharply stratified society and constituted the ruling class.
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