Questions you should never ask during your self drive trip in Rwanda.

Rwanda is a special place to visit given it’s rich culture, history and beauty. It deserves all of its many accolades for instance being voted in London on November 7^th 2019 as one of the top 30 emerging travel destinations on the planet for 2020 and number one overall on the continent of Africa. Here are some of the questions you should never ask during your self drive trip in Rwanda.

It is not by chance that Rwanda gets recognised globally given the fact that not more than 30 years ago, the small country experienced the horrific genocide in 1994. The government has since endeavoured to create a tourist friendly environment by participating in major tourism fairs and with support from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, developed a 10 year sustainable tourism development master plan that has put it on the map as one of the safest tourist destinations in Africa.

The Rwanda that tourist witness today is modern, clean, peaceful, and committed to the betterment of its people and wildlife.  It is also a place where even the most Well intentioned travellers can make a faux pas especially when it comes to highly sensitive topics.

When visiting and have decided to Self drive in Rwanda, it’s essential to be respectful and considerate when interacting with locals. Here are some questions to avoid asking:

Ethnic Designation

Do not be tempted to ask locals if they are Hutu or Tutsi. The post genocide Rwanda pursued a policy of unity and reconciliation and the country has made great effort to heal by forgiving those who did wrong and to move forward, they agreed that they are not Hutu or Tutsi, but one; Rwandan!

The separation into different groups was introduced by the Belgians in 1932 and these distinctions were based on physical differences such as height, facial features and the number of cattle a family owned. By asking them to identify themselves as either encourages the same division that led to the genocide and you are likely to receive hostility from the people you ask.

Today, the distinction between Hutu and Tutsi is no longer part of any conversation.

Do not ask about Genocide

The topic itself is traumatic and still fresh in most people though it happened not more than 30 years ago. A majority of Rwandans lost close relatives or friends in this senseless Genocide and it is estimated that this tragedy claimed the lives of more than 1 million people.

Some of these people endured very extreme conditions just to survive. Some of the survivors have suffered long term health conditions such as HIV/AIDS as a result of sexual violence during the genocide and others live in dire poverty whereas some have developed long term psychological conditions as a result of the trauma.

Should you feel the need to learn more about genocide, pay a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial which is the resting place of about 250,000 victims and there you’ll be provided with a detailed narrative of this tragedy. You need to be very mindful of this topic as this can be perceived as insensitive.

Personal Income or Possessions

By all means, never ask a Rwandan local how much money they make. Just like any other African country, there is an imbalance in income levels and there are also social classes ie the poor, middle class and the rich. As a visitor self driving in Rwanda, avoid asking about someone’s salary, wealth or material possessions as this can be seen as impolite.

Sensitive Historical Events

Refrain from asking about other historical events like the assassin of the president Habyarimana or the role of the neighbouring countries in the genocide, the re-election of president Kagame, the Rwanda Congo civil war among several other topics.

All in all, remember to approach any conversation with respect, empathy, and an open mind. Focus on learning about Rwanda’s culture, history, and daily life in a sensitive and considerate manner.