23-year-old Joel Imbabarire has taken time to highlight the past memories of the genocide against the Tutsi through paintings.

The fact that art lives on for a long time, he is sure that the candle of light drawn, will be an indication of lighting the dark emotions to the past, present, and future generations.

"Sometimes as some music lights dark soul without touching it, it is exactly the way Rwandans should be responsible for creating the light of hope in Rwandan’s hearts that are still hurt by the genocide wounds and scars,” he says.

This can be through sending them polite, and encouraging messages to boost their strength. Due to Covid-19, large gatherings are prohibited but messages of hope can do such people well. If possible, they require to be encouraged to seek counselling, he adds.

Imbabarire stresses that his portraits are designed to convey peace, unity, and reconciliation. He drew inspiration from high incredible steps of unity, reconciliation, and progress that Rwandans have experienced and built 27 years on.

Imbabarire’s portraits are designed to convey peace, unity, and reconciliation

He credits Rwandans for taking a step to forgive the perpetrators that left them orphans, childless, with both physical and emotional scars. To him, forgiveness is the first step to healing.

Imbabarire calls upon Rwandans to get involved in the efforts of helping others to heal, be realistic about what healing is and isn’t.

Today as Rwandans, we are still achieving the success of peace, and unity and conciliation with the help of National Unity and Reconciliation Commission- NURC, he says.

He draws his inspiration from Rwanda’s progress with unity and reconciliation

The artist believes forgiveness is the first step to healing.