During the event, three authors shared insights from their books on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and advised the youth on engaging in the preservation of genocide history and desist misinterpretations.
The event took place in Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village yesterday evening marking the end of the first day of the international conference on genocide conversations convening in Kigali on “Preserving Memory, Championing Humanity”.
Through their works of literature, the authors depicted the dark history Rwanda has passed through; what pushed their inspiration and advised the youth inside and outside the country to resist genocide denials and misinterpretation.
Authors featured in the discussions include Virginie Brinker a France national, Rwandan Jean Marie Vianney Rurangwa and Koulsy Lamko from Tchad who held a discussion on preserving the history of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“What happened in Rwanda concerns Africa and the World. We know that neighbors intervene when a family is facing tough situations. Africa is asleep on its history but we need to awaken through literature,” said Lamko.
Lamko explained that African writers need to join hands writing the truth of what happened because it gives a perception of how things are.
Virginie Brinker the author of ‘‘La Transmission littéraire et cinématographique du génocide des Tutsi au Rwanda’’ was a lecture of literature since 2003. She was attracted by what she saw about genocide on TV and pushed her to come for eye witness.
“Contemplating about history should be the concern of the youth nowadays. It is not the past but the future. There is a little step achieved in teaching genocide history since 2009. The most important is that you can find places programs teaching about these courses. We have to work together as researchers but Rwandans should go forward along this journey,” she said.
These authors highlighted artistic expressions have an impact on teaching future generations with the aim of preventing reoccurrence of genocide.
Rurangwa who joined the career 33 years ago is the author behind books like “Les identités lourdes à porter”, ‘‘Au sortir de l’enfer’’, “Un Rwandais sur les routes de l’exil’’ and ‘‘Génocide des Tutsi expliqué à un étranger’’.
He also highlighted that knowledge shared through the works of literature shall enable the world to feel ownership of genocide history.
“Writing what happened properly spreads awareness because there might be reoccurrence if it is not known to the world. That is why we have to write books, poems, drama, and long stories so that our children and the youth know what happened to prevent reoccurrence,” said Rurangwa.
He urged the youth to be fearless talking about genocide history in schools and share right values.
Café Littéraire is organized by the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) in partnership with the national library.
