Behind 31-year old Daniel Sibomana’s receptive, artistic and intellectual nature, lies a tough past of addictions, terrible heart break and horrific memories of the past.When I went to meet him at his home in Kimironko for the interview, he was very hospitable, offered me a variety of drinks and took me through his neat house with beautiful and unique interior designs that he painted.It all started at the age of 14 when Daniel, a genocide survivor, lost his dad and brother who he was so close to. His world crushed after losing the two people he loved so much. In his own words, “I felt like they had killed me too although I hadn’t died.”That experience of the genocide made him lose trust in human beings and he didn’t find any meaning in life so he resorted to alcohol, smoking and mildly doing drugs to help him ‘feel better’.He was left with his mom and two sisters who had high expectations of him since he was the only man in the family left. He was however discouraged, broken and haunted with ugly nightmares alongside the dreadful memories of the past.Sibomana resorted to drugs as painkillers for what he was going through as all his other dreams had be shattered; like that of being an artist since his father who had promised to take him to an art school had passed on.Despite his drinking, smoking and doing drugs problem, he was a brilliant student all through school and actually got a scholarship to study at the National University of Rwanda, Butare after his high school.He joined university, still holding onto the drugs, cigarettes and alcohol until he met this girl who swept him off his feet, while in his second year at university.First turning point takes twist Danny narrates how this girl changed his perspective towards life, and helped him fight the addictions:I was 23 and she was 22 when we met and fell crazy in love. She helped me change and infact I reduced my drinking, smoking and drugs. She loved me with all my imperfections. We started living together while at campus and she got pregnant. We were actually happy. Her parents were so mad at us but since we loved each other so strongly, I told her I would figure out a solution.Later that night as my girlfriend was so troubled, I proposed to her with a ring I had made out of a drinking straw.I asked for her hand in marriage and she gladly accepted. We got married in 2003, had our wedding and resumed our studies. We stayed at the University with our son, Darnel, who was famously known as Butare’s youngest.Like they say; old habits die hard, I started drinking again and doing drugs. My wife tried to help me out of it and even wanted to help me get professional help but I rejected her advice.She always told me to choose between her and my addictions of alcohol and drugs. I loved her so much but I was also so entwined with the drugs and alcohol which had become, so had to let go as well.A point reached when my wife couldn’t deal with the pain of living with me anymore, as I wasn’t there most of the time since the bar had become my other home.One day our child fell sick and we didn’t have money. So, I went to look for money to take him to hospital and when I got it, I ended up in the bar all night.Next morning, I found my child and her mother in hospital and she was too mad at me that she slapped me. She had borrowed money from a neighbor to rush Darnel to the hospital. I promised her that I would change but I only got worse.We were finalizing University and I had travelled to Burundi, when I got a call from her telling me we needed to talk and so I came back to Rwanda.She told me to find her at her parents’ home and I instantly smelt trouble. She asked for a divorce and two months letter, I got a wedding invitation that she was getting married to some other guy and moving to Belgium with my son.My wife was my second savior, after the divorce, my son had taken over but he was also leaving for a very far away place. My life crashed again and I took every drug I could afford, lived on alcohol and drugs. I tried to commit suicide several times because I couldn’t figure out the meaning of life as I had lost faith in love, God and life. I quit University in my final year when I was only left with writing my dissertation.Ultimate turning pointAt some point, I decided I wanted a change and to find purpose for my life. I told my mum to take me to a rehabilitation centre for help and she thought I was joking. On 13th May 2011, she took me to Ikizere centre for eight weeks and my life changed completely. I completely stopped doing drugs, boozing and smoking as I had made a choice to start a new life with purpose.I went back to University and finished my dissertation and got so many job offers. I am now a Journalist and Cartoonist with Kigali Today. I love Art too, so I do paint in my free time.I feel like I was given back my life and resurrected so there is this moral obligation I have to share my testimony and help other people overcome such addictions. This is the very first year I can say I am living ever since the age of 14; I want to help others regain their lives, conquer drugs and other addictions.
