Rwanda gained her independence on the 1st of July, 1962. The country’s economy is based mostly on subsistence agriculture and crops mostly grown are banana, potatoes, cassava, wheat, maize, beans etc. The major cash crops are coffee and tea which are also exported. The industrial sector also contributes to the country’s economy.
Roman Catholicism is the most common Christian denomination in the country which is represented by 43.7% of the population. Protestants take 37.7% of the population excluding Seventh-day Adventists in which 11.8% of the population are members. Muslims are represented by 2.0% while 0.2% claimed no religious beliefs.
Kinyarwanda is the country's principal and National language and is spoken by nearly all Rwandans. French was introduced by Belgium and remained an official and widely spoken language. English, a primary medium of instruction in secondary and tertiary education and Swahili is also an official language in the country.
Homosexuality is generally a taboo in Rwanda and same sex marriage is not accepted in the country. Although same-sex sexual activity is legal in Rwanda and some cabinet-level government officials have expressed support for the rights of homosexuality and transgenderism
Marriage is considered the most basic social institution in Rwanda, and the pressure to marry and have children is quite heavy. Women bearing children out of wedlock were once punished by banishment or death. It still remains strongly stigmatized, though it is also relatively common. Rwandans consider children a sign of wealth, and bearing children is an important social duty.
Education in the public schools in Rwanda has been free and compulsory for 9 years but in 2012, it was extended to 12 years. The country’s literacy rate has had significant increase as it records about 71% literate citizens.
The cuisine of Rwanda is based on local foods produced by subsistence agriculture such as bananas, plantains, sweet potatoes, beans, and cassava etc. Tilapia fish is popular for people living close to the lake. Ubugari is a paste made from cassava or maize and water to form a porridge. Fermented yoghurt called ikivuguto, is a common drink throughout the country.
Walking around is very common as most towns are small but a moto-taxi is also available, they are generally fast and safe. Rwanda has efficient and reliable public transport. Privately run buses cover the entire country and modern minibuses serve all the main routes.
In Rwanda, dry season occurs from June to August of which July is the driest month and a rainy season from September to May. The rains in Rwanda usually occur in the form of downpour or thunderstorm and the sky is often cloudy. The best time to visit Rwanda runs from June to August, since it is the driest of the year.
The country welcomes about 1.2 million tourists annually. There are lots of interesting places to visit in Rwanda some of which are;
- Nyungwe Forest, Musanze: A visit to this forest offers an experience of the biodiversity in Rwanda. There are different primate species like chimpanzee, silver monkeys, owl face monkeys etc.
- Lake Kivu, Gisenyi: This Lake has one of the best natural views in Rwanda. It is a must visit when in the country as it is a beautiful sight to behold. Lake Kivu contains more than two ports and is the highest lake in Africa.
- Akagera National Park, Kigali: This Park is a home to different mammals in Africa like elephants, buffalos, hippos, giraffes etc. Few lions and leopards are also seen in this park. There are various species of birds here including the red-faced barbets.
There are over 500 hotels in Rwanda and the majority are in the country’s capital while others are located in popular cities across the country.
