Primus Guma Guma contestants pay tribute to Kamonyi Genocide survivors

On Friday, two buses carrying the Primus Guma Guma SuperStar season three (PGGSS 3) contestants headed to Gatwa village in Kamonyi District, where contestants paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Off the main road, the buses turned off to a narrow—murram road on the outskirts of Kamonyi. The delegation, which included officials from Bralirwa Ltd, members of East African Promoters, artistes and the press, were received at Ngamba Sector by the officials, widows and orphans of Genocide.Eleven contestants, who include Fireman, Bull Dog, Eric Senderi, Christopher, Danny Nanone, Dream Boys, Urban Boys, Mico, Riderman, Kamichi and Knowless, the only female contestant in the competition, also stopped by Rwakibuza memorial site, where they paid tribute to more than 345 Tutsi victims of the Genocide.The stars, humble and dressed casually, comforted the survivors and promised to always keep them in their hearts and prayers.Urban Boys’ frontman Humble Jizzo, spoke on behalf of the artistes, “Words cannot express the horror that we feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the survivors who lost their loved ones, but our hearts go out to you all,” Jizzo told the survivors.Égide Mazimpaka, an official of Ngamba Sector, said the residents of the area were grateful to Bralirwa and the artistes for joining them in the 19th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.“This is a great initiative, which not only builds us but also gives the survivors hope during this painful period,” Mazimpaka said. According to Mazimpaka, there are 345 Genocide survivors living in Ngamba sector and 19 families of the survivors reside in Gatwa village.During the visit, Bralirwa donated foodstuffs and household items worth Rwf600, 000 to 40 families of Genocide widows and orphans in Ngamba. Rose Mukasine, the coordinator in charge of social affairs in AVEGA Agahozo in the Southern Province commended the musicians for the good gesture.“We thank the artistes for this great initiative. These are young people who are learning the history of the Genocide---knowing its implications and thinking about the survivors.”“We are glad that the stars came all the way from the city to this village to see the living conditions of Genocide widows and to listen to their testimonies,” noted Mukasine. Mukasine also pointed out some of the major challenges the Genocide widows face, which include the psychological problems and lack of accommodation.She called on Rwandans to bear in mind the plight of Genocide survivors and widows, who are currently advancing in age.Estelle Mukarugira, 52, one of the Genocide widows in Ngamba sector, lost her entire family of eight children and husband. She said she was glad to see the artistes join them as they grieve for their loved ones.“They did this out of their hearts, and you could really tell this was a sincere gesture. Though we lost our loved ones, we have people like you who still care for us,” a tearful Mukarugira told the stars.Eric Senderi, one of the PGGSS 3 contestants and a Genocide survivor, who has also composed numerous songs about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including his latest single Kamonyi, had this to say to the survivors.‘‘It’s a horrible and very sad experience, but that’s a history we have to live with,” Senderi said.“But it is from this history that we gather the resilience to work hard and strive for self-reliance,” the singer added.Alice Marie Uwera, one of the caretakers of the memorial site, said the site has remains of 3, 588 people buried there while another 3, 000 are buried in Mugina sector.Uwera commended the stars and Bralirwa for visiting the site in Kamonyi.

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Primus Guma Guma contestants pay tribute to Kamonyi Genocide survivors