New book incises into an unadulterated chronicle of Rwandan history

Dubbed “History Of Rwanda” the book has 726 pages. NURC handed the book to Ethnographic Museum in Huye yesterday, under the agreement to distribute it in and outside the country.

NURC executive secretary, Fidèle Ndayisaba said that the book is comprised of information that was collected by researchers. He said that they expect much from the book in uniting Rwandans and help them live in harmony.

“It is the research that was initiated by the NURC about the history of the country. We intended to find out evidence of Rwandan history from pre-colonial period, during colonialism, first and second republic, during liberation struggle to 1994 and between 1994 to 2003 during transitional government,” he said.

Written in three languages, Kinyarwanda, French and English, the book is intended to clear the air about Rwandan history.

Ndayisaba reiterated that the book was written with the intention of preserving original history, as previously, the history was falsified in different books that have been written with political interests and propaganda.
“Falsifying history affected the unity of Rwandans and Rwandanhood spirit,” he said.

Ndayisaba explained that the book has insights about Rwandan history in terms of social cohesion, economy and politics among others.

“There are books that have been written about the history of Rwanda but falsified them. Readers needed history which is reliable and impartial,” he added.

According to NURC, research that led to the book started in 2005 and ended in 2010, it was edited and translated into two languages, French and English. The entire project cost an estimated Rwf100 million.

The Director General of the Institute of National Museum of Rwanda, Amb. Robert Masozera said that the book will be distributed in all museums in the country and bookshops so that it becomes easily available for buyers.

Ndayisaba said the book was given to Rwanda Education Board (REB) to distribute them in Primary, Secondary and University. He said they will also encourage local leaders to read the book so that they will promote among all residents.

According to NURC, the book is sold at Rwf10,000.