Definition

Noun: 1. A member of a Bantu-speaking ethnic group: Watutsi refers to an individual belonging to a specific ethnic group, also commonly known as the Tutsi, primarily residing in the African Great Lakes region, notably in Rwanda and Burundi.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Historical records describe the watutsi as traditionally being cattle herders.
  • The conflict involved the watutsi and other ethnic groups in the region.
  • She interviewed a watutsi elder about the community's customs.

Advanced Usage

• The term Watutsi is a specific ethnonym. In academic and historical contexts, it is crucial to use such terms with precision and awareness of their socio-political connotations, especially regarding the complex history of the region.

Variants and Related Words

• Tutsi (n): The more frequently used modern spelling and term for the same ethnic group.
• Banyarwanda (n): Refers to the people of Rwanda collectively, which includes the Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa groups.
• Ethnic group (n): A social category sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or history.

Synonyms

• Tutsi: The direct synonym.
• Ethnic Rwandan / Ethnic Burundian (when specifying nationality alongside ethnicity, though this is a broader category).

Notes on Usage

• Historical Context: The term "Watutsi" is deeply tied to the colonial and post-colonial history of Rwanda and Burundi. Discussions involving this term often require contextual understanding of the region's past.
• Sensitivity: Due to the history of ethnic conflict, notably the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the term should be used with appropriate context and respect. The preferred contemporary term is often simply Tutsi.

Noun

1. a member of a Bantu speaking people living in Rwanda and Burundi