How did cattle ownership influence social status in precolonial Burundi?

In precolonial Burundi, cattle served as a primary symbol of wealth and were central to defining social status. While the Tutsi were traditionally associated with cattle ownership and the Hutu with agriculture, these social identities were fluid rather than rigid.12

Because cattle ownership was a key marker of status, the economic standing of an individual could influence their social classification. By societal standards of the time, a wealthy Hutu could be identified as a Tutsi, while a poor Tutsi might be identified as a Hutu. This fluidity highlights that social identity in precolonial Burundi was not determined solely by ancestry or physical appearance, but was significantly shaped by one's economic position and the possession of cattle.12