The Tutsi people: where the highest people on earth live

The Tutsi people, numbering about 2-2.5 million people, live in several Central African states: Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in some neighboring countries.

The ancestors of Tutsi, who came to Central Africa from the territory of Ethiopia and Sudan in the XV century, were engaged in cattle breeding. Later, they began to mix with the more numerous ethnic group of Hutu, having adopted their farming and language skills. Gradually, there was a mixture of these two peoples, as evidenced by their genetic affinity. But cattle breeding is still considered a preferred occupation for Tutsi, and ransom for the bride is also measured by the number of cattle transferred to the family.

Tutsis speak two closely related languages ​​of the Bantu-Rundi and the Round group. In addition to their native language, many Tutsis speak French, which is the official language of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most modern Tutsis profess Catholicism, although traditional beliefs are still strong among Tutsis living in villages. This people has a very rich folklore, they know many fairy tales, sayings and legends. The traditional craft, which Tutsi owns perfectly, is the weaving of various products from dry straw and cane. Tutsis make baskets, boxes and pieces of furniture from the plant material.

A distinctive feature of the people of the Tutsi people is their high growth, long legs and narrow, elongated face. The average growth of Tutsi women is 175 centimeters, and of men - 193 centimeters, although it is not uncommon among Tutsis and people who grow more than 2 meters. Researchers suggest that one of the factors that have influenced the high growth of Tutsi is their habitat in semi-desert savannah climate and traditional cattle breeding, which involves significant daily pedestrian crossings. This is also indicated by the fact that other tribes reside in this region of Africa, whose representatives are distinguished by a higher growth in comparison with other peoples of the world. They are Dinka, Masai, Samburu, Luo and other peoples, traditionally inhabiting East and Central Africa.

The last decades were very difficult for the Tutsi people. Despite centuries of living in the neighborhood with the Hutu people, the abundance of mixed marriages and a common language, an interethnic conflict erupted between these tribes. But these are the realities of post-colonial Africa: hundreds of thousands of Tutsis became victims of the conflict, many were forced to flee their homes. It remains only to hope that in the near future the world will reign in this long-suffering region and the Tutsis will once again drive their numerous herds of cows with graceful horns through the expanses of the savannah.