“If we were to go on physical strength and I fought back, there’s no way she could get away with it. But then, if I did and she got injured, the police would be against me either way,” Ronald (not his real name) said, his voice heavy with emotion.
For over a decade, he has passionately devoted himself to fighting for human rights, particularly against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). His friends had often urged him to include men in the conversation, but his response remained, “Men are the perpetrators; who gives a damn about them anyway?”
Now, the hunter has become the hunted. Ronald found himself a victim of the very violence he had been fighting against, inflicted by his significant other. She had been harassing him for a while, but October 3, 2024, became the breaking point. The evidence was undeniable—bruises on his face and other parts of his body forced him to seek justice from the authorities.
Like women, men too can be victims of GBV. However, women and girls face significantly higher risks, prompting the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. Ronald acknowledges this disproportionality and continues his activism despite his personal ordeal.
On November 27, 2024, he took to the stage at R.E.S.P.E.C.T—a night organized by Spoken Word Rwanda and Femicide Watch Rwanda, in partnership with Mundi Center, to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism.
The sole male performer that night, Ronald highlighted the various forms of GBV women face, predominantly at the hands of men in his country. From rape to femicide, female genital mutilation (FGM), trafficking, and systemic gender oppression, he spoke of these injustices with raw emotion, condemning the apathy of authorities and those in power.
“But you see, 152 to most is just a number. But it’s the number of our dead sisters, nieces, cousins. It’s the number of our babies killed last year for nothing but being women—for wanting love, for falling in love,” he explained.
“Our women cannot find random love because meeting a stranger in one way or another is a way of asking to be stabbed by a stranger. It’s like signing a death sentence. Our Airbnb’s are slaughterhouses, our president threatens the judiciary, and the youth of the nation praise him. My country (Kenya) is a whorehouse where every leader is there to loot and take away whatever they find,” he added bitterly.
While physical violence is the most visible form of GBV, Ronald also touched on the psychological injustices women endure at the hands of men who should be their partners and protectors. Women often enter marriage seeking companionship and emotional support, only to find themselves relegated to servitude.
Jessica and Alice, a girl duo, echoed these sentiments in their essay presentation, I Want a Wife, which underscored the domestic injustices women face. They narrated the expectations placed on wives to shoulder an overwhelming list of duties—from raising children and managing households to meeting their husbands’ physical and emotional needs—all while being denied opportunities for independence or education.
“I would like to go back to school so that I can become economically independent, support myself, and if need be, support those dependent upon me. I want a wife who will work and send me to school. And while I’m going to school, I want a wife to take care of my children,” one line read.
The demands escalated: “I want a wife who will keep my house clean, who will pick up after me, keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, and replaced when needed, and ensure my personal things are always in their proper place.”
Responding to these themes, poet Esther Huddasah urged women to embrace their power and defy societal expectations in her stirring performance. “We are the difficult women who don’t take it easy or stay silent. We don’t whisper our inconveniences into the void of nothingness. We make it difficult for the patriots and misogynists, for the society that tries to label us,” she declared.
She concluded with an empowering message: “The greatest lesson a woman should learn is that since day one, she’s already had everything she needs within herself. It’s the world that convinced her otherwise. Let’s fight against GBV.”
E.J.T, also known as Elizabeth Jeannette Turner, called on women to amplify their voices, for men to hold each other accountable, and for elders to create a culture that values women’s safety. “The end of the hunt is the end of patriarchy,” she proclaimed. “Sit comfy in your kingdom, but beware: when the lion awakens, you will feel my roar.”
For over 13 years, Spoken Word Rwanda has provided a platform for poets, writers, activists, musicians, and artists to express themselves. Founder and host Diana Mpyisi described the stage as a safe space for people to pour out their hearts without judgment.
Spoken Word happens every last Wednesday of the month at Mundi Center in Gikondo, with each session curated around a theme that resonates with both the audience and performers. Last week’s event was dedicated to the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, commemorated globally from November 25 to December 10.
Each day of the campaign highlights a specific form of GBV, from domestic violence to cyber harassment, femicide, and violence against marginalized groups. The movement demands zero tolerance for GBV and urges everyone to take action.
