Heroes have been urged to nurture the spirit of heroism among young generations to make it a culture.

Julienne Uwacu, the minister for sports and culture, made the call yesterday during a meeting with living heroes on sustainability and dispersal of heroism in Kigali yesterday.

The country’s only known surviving heroes are members of the Komezubutwari Association, made of survivors of the 1997 attack by Interahamwe militia on Nyange Secondary School in Ngororero District.

The militia shot dead six students after the students refused to separate themselves along ethnic lines.

"Many people think that there are some requirements for someone to achieve heroic activities such as age or education level. Nevertheless, at your early age, in your secondary school, you proved that heroism does not require such but only dedication to positive and patriotic values,” said Uwacu.

"You were told to separate yourselves along ethnic lines but you refused despite the risks of losing your lives. You demonstrated Rwandan identity. Today, we are teaching the whole country that the Rwandan identity like the one you showed should be reflected in all activities.

For you who made it before, we expect you to transmit that identity, that heroism culture, to children to ensure that generations to come uphold the same values,” she said.

Rwandan heroes are classified into three categories; Imanzi, Imena and Ingenzi.

The Imena category, under which the former Nyange students fall, also consists of King Mutara III Rudahigwa Charles Léon Pierre, Michael Rwagasana, Agatha Uwiringiyimana, Felicité Niyitegeka and the murdered students of Nyange Secondary School.

Déo Nkusi, the executive secretary of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decoration of Honours, urged the living heroes to overcome the challenges they face in their communities and to uphold heroism.

He said: "Our heroes who lost their lives did what they had to do. For you who survived, we know that you face some challenges like any other person in the community. However, your heroism is not for one day. Even today, the country expects more from you and the whole Rwandan society needs you to be role models.”

Phanuel Sindayiheba, president of Komezubutwari Association, said they are committed to upholding heroism.

"We are convinced that what we did was the beginning of our mission to inculcate heroism culture among Rwandans. We want to make heroism a culture through upholding the best heroism practices in our daily life. However, it would be better for some of the heroes who still suffer from injuries they sustained from the attack to be supported,” Sindayiheba said.

Laurent Bayisenge, a member of Komezubutwari Association from Nyamasheke District, said their testimonies should be documented.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw