Storytellers are crucial in preserving Rwandan history, using their narration to make sure that the country’s horrific past isn’t forgotten over time, and will not be repeated. Storytellers also link generations. Amid denialism, ideology, and misinformation, exploring Rwanda’s history from the start is critical to combat false narratives and ensure that the truth prevails.
Storytelling takes many forms—videos, oral archives, books, written records, and personal testimonies. Each medium has its own unique way of telling stories and evoking a range of emotions.
New docufilm by Samuel Ishimwe, a Genocide survivor and filmmaker, explores the role and roots of colonialism in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The docufilm tells the story of pre-colonial and colonial Rwanda, and how colonialism planted seeds of hate and division among Rwandans.
The documentary, which has garnered over 100,000 views on YouTube, has served as a revealing exploration for Rwandan youth and the broader international community. It provides an in-depth look into Rwanda’s history from the pre-colonial era to the present, shedding light on events and narratives that have often remained unclear.
In the docufilm, Ishimwe explores the Hamitic myth, the arrival of Richard Kandt, Jean Hiernaux’s phrenology index, the Hutu Revolution, and how these, among other things, led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Speaking to The New Times, Gerard Nyirimanzi (Rtd. Lt Col), a historian and chairperson of ‘Abacukumbuzi’, advises the youth to learn history to be able to turn the page of Rwanda’s dark past and look to the future. Through Abacukumbuzi, Nyirimanzi uses research and storytelling to keep Rwanda's history alive.
Nyirimanzi underlined that "genocide was never a part of our culture but rather a product of built-up frustration.”
"Unity was a defining feature of pre-colonial Rwanda, classified into 18 clans, according to ancestry and socio-economic classes, Rwandans used these systems to organise themselves and better run the country.
"The terms "Tutsi", "Hutu” and "Twa” were classes used to describe the type of trade one was engaged in. The "Tutsi” were raising cattle, the "Hutu” were farmers, and the "Twa” were engaged in pottery and artisanal crafts,” Nyirimanzi noted.
He said that during colonisation, Rwandans learned about racial science and the "we” and "them” ideology, a divide that grew over generations. The colonialists labelled the Hutu a "primitive race” and the Tutsi were seen as a "splendid” race that originated from the North because they had more Eurocentric features, also known as the Hamitic myth.
As colonial power went on, the Tutsi were granted power and gained favour in the eyes of the colonising Europeans. This led the Hutu to view the Tutsi as outsiders, believing they had undue privilege in a country that was not theirs. Frustration grew among Hutu due to this ideology and they fought for years to take over the country.
Alison des Forges’ book, "Leave None to the Tell the Story”, a book strongly recommended by Nyirimanzi, explores propaganda, the RPF, colonialism, and the leadership before, during, and after the Genocide and especially the effect it had on the people of Rwanda. Alison dives into the role of France and other international forces in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Romeo Dallaire's book, "Shake Hands with the Devil", explores Rwanda's harrowing experience during the Genocide and examines the international community's failure to intervene. Dallaire's recount of his experience in Rwanda reveals the intense anguish that the country endured during the Genocide.
Storytelling is key to preventing history from repeating itself. It helps us understand how to move Rwanda forward and enables us to share a better narrative with future generations. By equipping ourselves with the right information and learning from storytellers, we can challenge denial and uphold the memory of those affected.