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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt its core, the book aims to \u201cpreserve and amplify authentic first-hand experiences for prosperity, whilst educating the world about Rwanda\u2019s history and celebrating its extraordinary recovery.\u201d This was showcased in a mini-exhibition\u2013Senses and Memory, by Alain Sabineza that ushered guests into an \u2018imaginary\u2019 journey of Rwanda\u2019s traumatic experience during the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using thirteen objects, he depicted the thirteen week period over which the genocide was practiced. These included a Rotary telephone\u2013symbolizing the \u2018hopeless\u2019 attempt of victims in quest for help, a Vintage AM\/FM radio\u2013a medium of rampant hate speech that fostered divisionism, Sheets of classical music notation\u2013to demonstrate the sombre symphonies of old masters haunting melodies before dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Insects (cockroaches) on the other hand were a symbol of indignity and humiliation that paved way for depravity, while the Roadblock, Identification card and Machete denoted the inescapable death, a pronounced sentence and weapon of painful horrors respectfully. Not to mention the Church altar as a place of solace turned home of sacrilege. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bridge and Nyabarongo River at the exhibition portrayed a crossover, hill to hill over which countless were thrown, whilst the Papyrus\/Sorghum and Corn\/Beans were means of survival for victims in form of hiding places and food respectively, before the \u2018Inkotanyi\u2019, represented by military attire would later come to their rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, the launch entailed Key note speeches and panels of discussions with representatives from partnering organizations like; MINUBUMWE (Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement), AEGIS Trust, Kigali Genocide Memorial (KGM), Never Again Rwanda, BK foundation, the Embassy of France in Rwanda and Institute Francois, in addition to survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, who stressed the significance of 30 years, 30 stories memoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addressing the guests, Alphonse Munyentwali, the country director AEGIS Trust expressed his deepest gratitude to the survivors for their courage in sharing their personal testimonies, contributing to Rwanda\u2019s journey of resilience and remembrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He stated that, \u201ctheir stories are not just historical records, instead powerful acts of resilience that educate future generations and serve as essential tools in the fight against denial of genocide ideologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the core of AEGIS trust, our mission is the preservation and amplification of these testimonies. At the Kigali Genocide Memorial, survivor accounts form the foundation of our work in education, peace building and memory preservation initiatives,\u201d remarked Munyentwali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza, the Executive Director Never Again Rwanda, echoed the same sentiments, noting that through sharing their stories, the country’s history is preserved, but most importantly, its people are \u2018healed\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo make sure that we have sustainable development, we need to have a healed society,\u201d he said. Adding that, \u201cleaders come from society. Thus, we need to allow people to share their stories as a form of therapy through self expression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quoting research, Dr.Theoneste Rutayisire the Executive Director of the Department of Research and Policy development at MINUBUMWE applauded Rwanda\u2019s level of resilience at all levels\u2013family, individual, community and institutional. He however acknowledged that more effort is desired particularly at family level, if the country is to achieve a trauma free generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMuch as we\u2019re working relentlessly to reunite the country through projects like \u2018Itorero\u2019, \u2018Ndi Umunyarwanda\u2019, and policy making programs, parents too need to play their role in raising their children, refraining from \u2018I\u2019m too busy with work\u2019 excuses.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rutayisire declared that Rwanda\u2019s population is predominantly composed of the post-genocide generation who are vulnerable to all kinds of content from social media. Hence parents ought to guide their children on how to adapt to such \u2018traumatic\u2019 information through one-on-one dialogues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, business fraternities like BK foundation are also taking part in empowering the young generation with the required knowledge to prevent the atrocities that befell the nation three decades ago from reoccurring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By partnering with \u2018Imagine We Publishers\u2019 to bring to life such a masterpiece, Ingrid Karangwayire, the executive secretary of BK foundation remarked that, \u201cthey employ over two thousand young people who need to be taught about their \u2018scary\u2019 history in a way that is \u2018appealing\u2019 and 30 years, 30 stories does exactly that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the contributors, is renowned artist and poet, Hope Azeda who for years has used art as a tool to commemorate the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi as well as bring healing to the survivors, perpetrators and the post-genocide generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Azeda not only contributed to the publication of the memoir, but also graced its launch, participating as a panelist alongside genocide survivors: Sonia Mugabo, Ihumure Irma and Mudacumura Fiston, who shared how they have found healing through their respective domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dominique Uwase, founder and CEO Imagine We Publishers, everyone, irrespective of their profession, has a collective responsibility to rebuild Rwanda. \u201c We cannot partake in the joy, without partaking in the pain,\u201d she stressed, urging young people to carry on the mantle of their history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs young people, we often doubt the relevance of our role and responsibility of carrying the mantle of our history, thinking we\u2019re too young to \u2018understand\u2019. However, if you ever wondered \u2018Should I\u2019, let the answer be \u2018Yes\u2019,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book\u201330 years, 30 stories is now available for purchase at Imagine We publications in Kagugu and on their website. Make sure you grab your copy and read about Rwanda’s history, as told by Sonia Mugabo, Sina Gerard, Ihumure Irma, Hope Azeda, Christian Ntwali, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, the commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi has revamped to incorporate \u2018Remembrance\u2019–of over a million people who were massacred in that period, with \u2018Celebration\u2019–of survivors of the same atrocity, for their contribution to the transformative journey of Rwanda, three decades later. Through sharing their testimonies, they have not only educated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":9075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,89],"tags":[163,156],"ppma_author":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-9074","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture","8":"category-news","9":"tag-just-so-you-know","10":"tag-story-of-the-day"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sensmagazine.com\/rw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/05\/20250502_092608-1024x683.jpg\")
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