Ethnic groups in Burundi

This article is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

It has been suggested that this article should be split into a new article titled History of inter-ethnic relations in Burundi. (discuss) (January 2021)

Part of a series on the
Culture of Burundi
History Timeline Urewe culture Origins of Hutu, Tutsi and Twa Kingdom of Burundi kings German East Africa Ruanda-Urundi Colonial residents Ruzagayura famine Burundian genocides 1972 1993 Second Congo War Burundian Civil War 1993 coup attempt Burundian unrest (2015–2018)
People
Languages
Cuisine
Religion
Art
Music
Media Radio Television
Sport
Symbols Flag Coat of arms National anthem
Burundi portal
v t e

Ethnic groups in Burundi include the three main indigenous groups of Hutu, Tutsi and Twa that have largely been emphasized in the study of the country's history due to their role in shaping it through conflict and consolidation. Burundi's ethnic make-up is similar to that of neighboring Rwanda. Additionally, recent immigration has also contributed to Burundi's ethnic diversity.^[1] Throughout the country's history, the relation between the ethnic groups has varied, largely depending on internal political, economic and social factors and also external factors such as colonialism. The pre-colonial era, despite having divisions between the three groups, saw greater ethnic cohesion and fluidity dependent on socioeconomic factors. During the colonial period under German and then Belgian rule, ethnic groups in Burundi experienced greater stratifications and solidification through biological arguments separating the groups and indirect colonial rule that increased group tensions. The post-independence Burundi has experienced recurring inter-ethnic violence especially in the political arena that has, in turn, spilled over to society at large leading to many casualties throughout the decades.^[2] The Arusha Agreement served to end the decades-long ethnic tensions, and the Burundian government has stated commitment to creating ethnic cohesion in the country since, yet recent waves of violence and controversies under the Pierre Nkurunziza leadership have worried some experts of potential resurfacing of ethnic violence. Given the changing nature of ethnicity and ethnic relations in the country, many scholars have approached the topic theoretically to come up with primordial, constructivist and mixed arguments or explanations on ethnicity in Burundi.^[3]