Rwandan youth commemorate 1994 Genocide through Art

EXACTLY two weeks prior to the Genocide commemoration period, a Rwandan dance group called Sick City Entertainment had an idea. They wanted to encourage youth involvement during this year’s commemoration. They decided to do something by the youth for the youth. A meaningful collaboration with likeminded groups was all that they needed to make it happen. Fortunately, their idea was well received. Ishyo Arts Centre and a sensational art group ‘I Art, Therefore I live’ came on board. “This was not our idea; it was Sick City Entertainment’s. They expressed their desire to work with us. We came along since our group is more experienced in writing, poetry and plays,” explained Lynker Kabera, one of the founders of ‘I Art, Therefore I Live’.A publicity drive was launched and youth from different corners of the country were attracted to the event. The Ishyo Arts Centre hall in Kacyiru was filled to capacity. Thirty minutes into the event, there was a momentary power blackout. However, this did not dampen the youth’s spirit. They improvised and glimmering candle lights were visible in different corners on stage. The event’s momentum resumed. Shortly after, the moment came and the actors of the play ‘Fear Rwanda’ took the stage. It was a monologue with different scenes. The play follows five different young people from different backgrounds, stories and ideas of life. The first one is a survivor, a young girl who is traumatised. She lost everything during the Genocide and is scared. She does not want to face the world. The second is a young man who killed during the Genocide and is remorseful. He is prosecuted for taking part in the Genocide. He pities himself and is now regretting. The third is a young girl who is coming from a foreign country. She was not born here but came to Rwanda. She neither knows what happened in the country nor can she speak the local language. She is trying to fit herself in. She is with her own people but she is not really in.The fourth is a victim, he happens to be born in a family that killed and is prosecuted. He is in fact innocent. Last but not least is a young person who has different ideas of life. He brings the other four together showing them that no matter what happened, they are the youth and the future of Rwanda and we need to work together to rebuild it.Teta Miriam, 16, who was playing the foreigner, believes in the youth’s potential.“We are young and full of art. We used our talent to reflect on what happened and the way forward for our country.”Winnie Rugamba, 16, who was playing survivor, thinks that the youth are sometimes judged harshly. “There is a wrong perception that the youth do not really care about what happened in the past. Today’s attendance is a huge testimony that the youth of Rwanda care.”The event was graced by vice president of the Senate, Jean Gakuba, and Executive Secretary of the Youth Council, Alphonse Nkuranga. Senator Gakuba expressed amazement: “I am amazed on what you people are doing. Keep up the same spirit and the government will support your activities in the future.” Nkuranga expressed the willingness of the Youth Council in supporting the youth activities. He, however, emphasised the importance of having their organisation registered. “You need to make your activities legal by having your organisation registered. The Youth Council will support you in achieving your goals,” he said.“The fact that the government officials opted to stay in the hall despite the loss of power, was really encouraging,” Kabera noted.Kabera, 18, narrated how the group was started. “We started with five artists in different fields. In the beginning we thought of something small that could bring us together with our fans. In July last year, we hosted a group of artists from Burundi. They inspired us to show what we have to a larger audience and from then, we have been working closely with Ishyo Arts Centre to stage more performances,” she recounts.

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Rwandan youth commemorate 1994 Genocide through Art