Icyunamo: Genocide Remembrance

Muraho inshuti zanjye! Hello my friends! Another month has passed, and I'm here with another blog.

This month, on April 7, marked the 17th anniversary of the start of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. There were events all over the country to remember those who were killed in the tragedy and to help promote peace and harmony (amahoro n'umutekano) so that such an event does not happen again. In this blog, I'll share some of the events that took place in and around my village.

The Genocide in 1994 began on April 7 when the plane of then-President HABYARIMANA Joseph was shot down over Kigali. It lasted 100 days and nearly 1 million people were killed. Each year, Rwanda has a week of remembrance beginning on the 7th of April. Around my village this last week, there were discussions each day about Rwanda. They discussed the past, present, an future, highlighting the progress that the country has made, especially since the Genocide.

In the daily discussions, local leaders talked about how the infrastructure in Rwanda has improved (more and better roads, better transportation, easier communication), how the standard of living has improved (fewer people living in poverty and a higher GDP), and how all Rwandans live together to promote a better future for all. There was little mention of the atrocities committed during the Genocide during these talks; instead the focus was on remembering what happened but moving forward. Most of the remembrance of those who died came each night around a campfire during a vigil.

The week of remembrance ended on Wednesday, April 13, with a large ceremony with prayers, speeches by local leaders, and a heart-breaking retelling by one and of his experience during the Genocide. Although I didn't understand every single word said, I understood enough, and the mood was decidedly somber as he spoke. Many people burst into tears, and there were some who had to taken away from the crowd and soothed after completely crumbling under the weight of their nightmarish memories.

I can't imagine having lived through such an event, and it's important that not only Rwanda, but also the world, remember what happened during the Genocide of 1994 so that such terrible tragedies are avoided in the future. We can all work together to build a better, more peaceful future. Amahoro n'umutekano.