Exactly thirty years ago in April, the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi was ripe. Rwanda was almost a failed state. Over one million people were killed. The country was deserted, bleeding, and the people were hopeless.
It is almost unbelievable how healed Rwanda looks today. With green, blossoming nature, buzzing cities and thriving people, one would think it is a completely different country. That is until you review archives, visit memorials and listen to survivor’s stories.
Rwanda is thriving but also remembering. The recurring theme is; Remember, Unite, Renew. One way of remembering is to educate ourselves, sympathize and listen. A factually accurate movie and heartfelt song is a good way to remember.
When we suggest these pieces of art, we approach them with sensitivity and reverence acknowledging the profound suffering endured by the victims and survivors. These resources are not just for learning, but they also encourage us to take action against genocide and its ideology wherever it happens.
SENS suggests a selection of songs and movies that offer invaluable perspectives on the genocide against the Tutsi, honor the memory of those lost and resilience of those who survived and serve as powerful tools for fostering empathy.
Movies:
Sometime in April; A movie directed by Raoul Peck for HBO, tells the story of a Hutu who struggles to find closure after bearing witness to the killing of more than 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 100 days. the plot intersperses between the Genocide in 1994, and April 2004, when Augustin Muganza, played by Idris Elba, is invited by his brother, Honore Butera, to visit as he stands trial for his involvement in the Genocide.
Hate Radio; On April 6-10, 2023, a Swiss theater director, Milo Rau, known for his artistic and provocative plays in Europe, brought back RTLM in Kigali in a form of a theatre play.
The play attempted to highlight the role of hate speech in advancing conflicts – and genocide, in Rwanda’s case. In a well-lit rectangular glass studio set in the middle of one of the Kigali Convention Center rooms, three journalists played by Diogène Ntarindwa, Bwanga PiliPili, Sébastien Foucault take turns whooping and ranting into the micro phones.
With its raucous “zoo radio” format, it could be any 1993-1994 show at RTLM; there are jingles, phone-ins, news bulletins, and the latest hits from Nirvana and Reel 2 Real. Sitting in the audience, the audience vividly felt they are watching a re-enactment of a typical broadcast from RTLM, also known as “Radio Machete”. The play was a ruthless emotional assault, full of harrowing tales of survivors and the human face of hatred.
The Day God Walked Away; The film, shot in Kigali, Rwanda, by cinematographer Marc Konickx, tells the tough journey of Jacqueline, a Tutsi domestic worker for a Belgian family. During a chaotic violence, Jacqueline escapes, only to find her own children murdered when she reaches her home. She goes to the jungle for refuge, where she meets a wounded man whom she helps. When attackers come after them, Jacqueline is saved by the wounded man, who ultimately tries to build a shelter for them.
However, haunted by the loss of her children, Jacqueline destroys it and ends up collapsing in a nearby village, overwhelmed by grief and trauma.
Words That Kill: The documentary “Words that Kill” produced by Aegis Trust in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, looks at how the Nazi Regime and the Hutu Power movement used similar tactics to spread hate. It talks about how radio shows played a big role in
spreading hateful messages about the Tutsi, Dehumanizing them, and encouraging violence against them.
By constantly using hurtful words and threatening violence, these radio and media called for people to kill their families, children, and neighbors. The documentary makes us think about
how we can stop hateful media from spreading its harmful messages, and why it’s important to act quickly and with care.
My Neighbor My Killer: Anne Aghion’s 2009 documentary zooms in on Rwanda’s Gacaca courts that were set up after the 1994 genocide. Over ten years, the film carefully looks into these courts run by ordinary citizens, showing how they work and their impact. It tells personal stories of survivors and those who committed crimes, all trying to live together again.
The film makes you think deeply about how a society rebuilds after such traumatic events. It gives real viewpoints and handles the difficult topic of reconciliation after the unimaginable tragedy.
Songs:
- Mbahoze Nte by Suzanne Nyiranyamibwa
- Bakobwa Mwirira by Florida Uwera
- Nyibutsa Nkwibutse by Mariya Yohana
- Sinkwibutsa Kwibuka by Mariya Yohana
- Ijambo Ryanyuma by Bonhomme
- Mata by Mariya Yohana
- Ese mbaze nde by Nyiranyamibwa Suzanne
