Before the arrival of European colonialists, Burundi had been an independent kingdom comprised of three primary groups - Tutsi, Hutu and Twa. A fourth group, the Ganwa, was made up of members of the royal family and was perceived to be separate and above the others. Although the society was not completely free of internal disputes for power, the four groups got along, sharing a common culture, a common language, the same set of values and taboos, as well as the same religion.