{7th April, brings back the 1994 dark moments that won’t leave Rwandans’ memories and world history, a period engulfed with darkness as sporadic killings were ignited, fuelled and spread across the country where more than 1,000,000 Tutsi, innocent victims were killed during one hundred days, a period considered as dooms-days of hunting the Tutsi with a lyrical bent of exterminating them from the surface of Rwanda; accusing them of the crime of being Tutsi.}
Thousands of people killed during the genocide that lasted 100 days included musicians, some of who were betrayed by fellow artistes while others were tortured to death accused of being spies of RPF Inkotanyi soldiers who fought to liberate the country in which the blood of innocent victims was flowing.
During the genocide, some Rwandan musicians mobilized citizens to kill others. The story is different today. Rwanda artistes are today committed towards inclusive progress of Rwandans.
Throughout messages Rwandan artistes have conveyed to Rwandans during the 22nd commemoration of genocide against Tutsi they have compared Rwanda in April 1994 and current Rwanda casting unity and progress for its citizens.
Artistes who talked to IGIHE have in general called on all Rwandans across the World to be agents of unity and called upon the youth to be the first in the drive of building the nation and sustaining attained achievements.
{{Senderi International Hit}}
Senderi was a young teen during the genocide. He says a reflection on how Tutsi in Nyarubuye, her birth place, were killed and tortured brings back horror and regret.
“I witnessed genocide as it happened. I was 16 years old and I had only completed primary school. For me it looked like the end of the World. I saw aggravated killings in Nyarubuye which I perceived as doom of the World,” he said.
To be part of the solution of stopping genocide, Senderi decided to join Inkotanyi. His decision was informed by what he had seen when soldiers of ex-president Habyarimana Juvenal were trained in Akagera National Park to kill Tutsi without mercy.
“That time I was confused. I would see young men from Kigali, Butare and Rwamagana who were accommodated at our home overnight and disappeared the next day. When I asked what happened at home, they explained that they had gone to join Inkotanyi. The time came when I also joined Inkotanyi to fight against Habyarimana’s soldiers who were trained in Akagera and attacked our homes,” he said.
Today, he says, Rwanda is a resurrected country and developed. “Within a short time after genocide, you can see that we have taken giant strides into the direction of development.
{{Aline Gahongayire}}
Aline Gahongayire was 7 years old during the genocide. Even though she was a child, she remembers that Tutsi children were seriously beaten and gradually persecuted where she studied at APAPER School.
“We would see barriers wherever we passed through going to school. Even though I was a little kid I remember that they used to ask us to stand up. They would ask Tutsi to stand in front and Hutu on the other side but they didn’t speak about Twa,” she said.
Gahongayire would ask parents what she has to respond when asked his race.
“Once my mum asked me to tell them that I am Rwandan. Really there was no freedom that time, no happiness since we only lived in persecution. My little mind was confused with such a situation,” she said.
Gahongayire lauds the country’s attained steps towards resilience.
“I can say that God is present in Rwanda. The country has attained tremendous development which is a lesson for foreign countries,” she said.
{{Mico The Best}}
Mico The Best was born in Nyakizu. He was 7 years old at the time of the genocide studying in primary one in Mburabuturo which was in Gikondo district.
“I was studying in Mburabuturo during the genocide. Though I was a child I didn’t see any development .Kigali city was embroiled in chaos and insecurity. Those who had money would not sleep,” he said.
He says Rwanda of today is a paradise based on what has been achieved so far after stopping genocide.
“ Rwanda has progressed and Rwandans are involved in the development. This demonstrates that Rwanda has brighter days ahead,”
{{Platini}}
Platini was born in Bukavu in DRC. Genocide took place when he was not in Rwanda. He however says that he used to hear that there are atrocities in Rwanda.
“At the time of the genocide I was 6 years old, living in DRC. We received information about killings in Rwanda where we lived in Bukavu. It was cruelty which I saw with my own eyes when we returned to Rwanda,” he said.
This artiste from Dream Boyz says that Rwanda has progressed in music industry.
“There are apparent infrastructures demonstrating where we are from and heading for. Such infrastructures also demonstrate a growing economy. Another most important thing to note is that genocide survivors are becoming resilient and not sunk into sorrow,” he added.
{{Ama-G The Black}}
Ama-G The Black was a child of 3 years old but his parents told him about the history the country passed through.
Ama-G The Black attests that the country has realized commendable progress.
“I can only see development. Based on problems the country experienced I voice my appreciation to the leadership of this country. The country has vivid progress, roads and buildings. We have left the obscure past, marching into progress.” he said.
{{Makanyaga}}
Makanyaga narrates genocide happenings as he saw them since he was living in Kigali where intensive killings took place. He affirms that many musicians participated in genocide adding that some of them betrayed fellow artistes to be killed.
“I was in Kigali when genocide took place. I was living in Gikondo at the time. It was horrific times. No one thought Rwanda could rise again. Some artistes were killed while others participated in genocide,” he said.
“At that time, some of us suspended music since our colleagues had been jailed. Aaron Nitunga and Kipeti were jailed during the period, accused of spying. Since then many artistes rejected music career,” he added.
He lauds citizens’ unity and RPF soldiers for stopping genocide.
“The situation has now changed. People live in harmony and unity without suspicion among themselves,” he said.
{{Jules Sentore}}
I was living in Burundi where I was born. Even though I didn’t witness when the tragedy befell my country, I was seriously affected. We returned to Rwanda in 1995 but I saw that things were not normal as the country was struggling for reconstruction,” he said.
“Currently the country has attained inclusive progress; infrastructures, security and living without discrimination which is different from the past,” added Jules Sentore.
{{Jolie Murenzi}}
At the beginning of genocide on April 7th, 1994, Jolie Murenzi was in Hamburg in German and was 22 years old. Explaining how she remembers those dark days she says: “I returned home that day and I watched television news with reports showing that things were falling apart in Rwanda. I started calling home in Gikondo via fixed lines wanting to know the situation of my parents but no one responded to my call.”
“Thereafter, my cousin living in Belgium informed me that my dad had been killed at the beginning of genocide. On April 8th around 5:00 pm I called home again; with much chagrin and horror uneasy to explain, I talked to my mum who was alive. It was the last time I talked to her since I later knew he was soon killed with my two young sisters,” added Jolie Murenzi.
Jolie Murenzi didn’t accept that information that her family had been killed till she saw evidence that they are no longer alive. She then went in German to join other Rwandans to talk to them about her tragedy.
“Since then I decided to break any relationship with Rwanda and Africa. In 1997 I returned to Rwanda and decided to live in Goma since I still felt shocked. I returned to live in Rwanda in 1999 but I was really healed in 2011. I started the way toward forgiveness in this year and started talking to people who live in Rwanda during genocide who would save my family but did nothing. I have forgiven them but I won’t forget,” she said.
Jolie Murenzi, one of influential women in cinema says that there is a hope for tomorrow’s Rwanda.
“After bad moments we passed through, there is a hope for a bright future. When you compare the past and present, you can realize that our children will live in better conditions, free of tragedies we experienced. The way towards unity and reconciliation must be supported with telling the truth,” she said.
After the genocide against Tutsi in 1994, people could not expect country’s artistes to progress as seen today. The music industry throughout the 22 years has made a step which is promising vitality.
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