Its been 30 years since the genocide against the Tutsi, and I find it difficult to believe that we still must write articles against denialism. Truth be told, I would prefer to simply compose a commemoration message for the millions who lost their lives, as well as for the survivors and their children. However, given the current situation, perhaps the commemoration message should take a different form: Setting the narrative straight. Therefore, permit me to begin with the words of the French West Indian Psychiatrist and Political Philosopher, a man whose ideas have greatly influenced my understanding of societal complexities, Frantz Ibrahim Omer Fanon: "People hold a core belief that is very strong [and] when they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted [so] they will rationalise, ignore or even deny anything that doesn’t fit with that core belief.” Dear Fanon, I must agree, you were right, Cognitive dissonance is real, and until my last breath, I live to fight it and fight it hard, I know many Rwandans and Africans will join me.

There comes a time when even the mightiest of evidence, by which I mean the millions of innocent souls lost, the stories of survivors, narratives marked by blood and bodies, cannot sway their beliefs. They are hardcore believers in denialism, crafting false narratives to suit their political convenience, perpetuating divisionism, and displaying arrogance. They may journey to Rwanda, witnessing the memorials where countless souls perished for the sole crime of being Tutsi. This harrowing narrative, immortalised in the annals of history, remains etched in the collective memory. Yet, despite this undeniable truth, there are those who choose to dissent. We recognize them for what they are: purveyors of falsehoods, unrepentant in their stance. It's evident that no amount of what they see, what we say, or how we feel can change their minds.

Genocide Against the Tutsi, not Rwandan Genocide

Trust me, Rwanda is that one country where mistakes are not punished but rather used as teaching moments. In fact, before, during, and after the commemoration, the country continues to educate people on this matter. My biggest issue arises when leaders of reputable stature, whom we, the young, look up to, from the so-called "most powerful countries," refer to what happened in Rwanda as the Rwandan Genocide. This is not only problematic but regressive. Clearly, it's not due to ignorance, as they are well positioned to access knowledge, but rather a deliberate attempt to distort the true narrative and create a new narrative that suits their interests, often divergent from the reality on the ground. Denialists are proliferating, now even labeling it as a 'Rwandan Genocide'. Hold on a moment, isn’t English your first language? We can't simply prefix a country before the term 'genocide'. Why? Because by law and truth, it's rightly termed as genocide, not a civil war, for one crucial reason: it was an attempted tribal cleansing, not just a conflict. We're aware that you understand this, but there's a deliberate attempt to sow confusion. Such flawed thinking must be vehemently opposed, both in intellectual discourse and on the streets, by a generation that is educated and vigilant against linguistic manipulation designed to mislead the masses. We are awake!

Here is the truth: every genocide targets a specific group, e.g

The Holocaust against the Jews by the Nazis

The 1915 genocide against Armenians by Turkey

The Herero and Nama genocide against the Herero and Nama by Germany

Equally so, in the case of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, the aim was to exterminate the Tutsi, orchestrated by the then government and extreme Hutu militias. We must counter those who argue otherwise by acknowledging the targeted group, which does not deny the fact that other people were killed. In the case of the Holocaust, Jehovah Witnesses, blacks, and other minorities were killed, but the planned and targeted group was clear, hence the phraseology 'a genocide against the Jews', the targeted group. In Rwanda, it was the Tutsi. There was a planning process, and lists made of families to be killed. Despite these facts and more, some people still choose ambiguity and involve themselves in denialism. It's not too late to repent.

Beware of opportunists; they are not here to commemorate but to self-resurrect

As an avid reader, I've come across some articles. The Western media should be ashamed. Instead of focusing on the true essence of our commemoration in Rwanda for the next three months – the million lives lost – they're fixated on portraying a man's fight for "heroism." We have Heroes Day in Rwanda for honouring heroes; if Rusesabagina deems himself a hero, he's welcome to join us for a debate on that day. We don't want distractions. Our focus is not on narratives of heroism but on honouring the memory of those who perished. Stop conflating issues. It would be wise to be mindful of this approach. Otherwise, you risk losing the respect of both intellectuals and ordinary Africans.

To the denialists:

Nevertheless, we implore them to heed our words: the genocide against the Tutsi transcends mere words on a page, confined to the pages of a textbook. It represents the lives of over a million lost souls, individuals who, like all of us, yearned for the chance to thrive. As survivors stand amongst us, they bear not only the burden of remembrance but also deserve our utmost compassion in how we address this grievous chapter in history. Similarly, the offspring of the fallen walk among us, deserving of our empathy and understanding. If there is but one gift we can bestow upon them, let it be the grace with which we discuss a matter that has profoundly shaped their lives. History is not what we wanted to happen; it's what happened. This is not a moment to score political points but to score love, compassion, for those who are still alive bearing the pain of a genocide.

To the young generation of Rwanda:

From the southern part of Africa, and in the voice of Samora Machel, and in Portuguese, I shout "A luta continua, Victoria Arceta. Contra o quê? Contra a ignorância. Contra o quê? Contra narrativas erradas”, meaning, the struggle continues, victory is certain. Against what? Ignorance. Against what? Wrong narratives. It's your duty to save your country. Do not let what your fathers lost their lives for die to falsehood and wrong narratives as if you cannot write your own story. Rwanda will never die because of some cheap lies written in paper and ink; your story is written in blood, and go ahead and save it. As a Pan-Africanist from Zimbabwe, who has lived in your country for half a decade, I stand with you as you commemorate the genocide against the Tutsi.

Charline Prazen Chikomo is a political economist studying for a Master's in Development Policy and Practice at the Nelson Mandela Graduate School of Public Governance, where he is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar for the year 2024. He holds a degree from the African Leadership University and is the Founder and CEO of the DUCE Leadership Initiative, dedicated to nurturing highly impactful leaders.