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Batwa Village in Rwanda

Updated: | Published: by |

After crossing Lake Kivu, and ending up in the southwestern corner of Rwanda, we visited a Batwa village.

The Batwas, also known as Pygmies, have been indigenous to the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa for hundreds of years.  They are a minority group in Rwanda, often impoverished, and known for the clay pots they produce.

All of the villagers were welcoming, and curious about our presence.  The children were more than happy to pose for our cameras.

Batwa boy in blue.
Batwa boy in blue.

Homes are made primarily of mud.
Homes are made primarily of mud.

The village
The village

A woman works on several clay pots in front of her home.
A woman works on several clay pots in front of her home.

The village we visited had 24 adults, and 125 children.
The village we visited had 24 adults, and 125 children.

The women take a lot of care in creating the rounded shape by hand.
The women take a lot of care in creating the rounded shape by hand.

Finished product: small handmade clay pots available for purchase. ($3-5 each)
Finished product: small handmade pots available for purchase. ($3-5 each)

It is not uncommon for young children to be seen carrying babies.
It is not uncommon for young children to be seen carrying babies.

To learn more about their current situation, read The Batwa: Rwanda's Forgotten Minority.

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. GlobalButterfly says

    Absolutely stunning images!!! I sure hope I make it there one day. I want to buy a pot!!! :)

    • Dave says

      Thanks Andi, it was fun to play photographer in the village. :)

  2. Michael Tieso says

    These pictures are amazing!

  3. Michael Tieso says

    These pictures are amazing!

  4. Sonya says

    Really evocative photos from Rwanda!

  5. Dave says

    Thanks Sonya

  6. Niringiye fred says

    am called niringiye Fred from makerere and am an anthropologist and researcher.   i have written about the livelihood hoods of the batwa in south western Uganda. so i need support to relaunch my research works.

  7. Niringiye fred says

    AM a Ugandan by nationality and  a student of anthropology from makerere university Kampala Uganda

  8. WASIRWA DAN says

    These people need some body to selflessly voice out their plight