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Who are the Twa?
Who are the Twa?
The Twa are the oldest known Indigenous people of the Great Lakes Region in Central Africa, with deep roots in what is now Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DRC, and southwestern Uganda. Long before the arrival of agriculturalist Hutu and pastoralist Tutsi populations, the Twa lived as hunter-gatherers, well adapted to the region’s dense mountain terrain. Research confirms that they were the first inhabitants of these areas (Vansina 2001; Mateke 1970). Often referred to as “Twa Pygmies” or “Batwa,” they are known for their expert tracking abilities and deep ecological knowledge.
Twa populations scattered through shaded area (Blench, 1999)
Population
Population
It is estimated that there are around 80,000 Twa people in Africa (Collins et al., 2020). The Twa in Rwanda have been designated as “Historically Marginalized People” (HMP), a term that reflects their history of discrimination, prejudice, and exclusion. Their vulnerability is underscored by reports highlighting their status as one of the most disadvantaged groups in the country.
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