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The Kwibuka Flame of Remembrance today travels to Nyamasheke District, the eleventh stop on its nationwide tour. The flame will return to Kigali on 7 April 2014, the start of the national mourning period and twenty years since the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. You can view an interactive map of the tour here.
Today’s community event is hosted by district Mayor Jean Baptiste Habyarimana and will reflect on the events of 1994 as well as the journey of Nyamasheke and Rwanda since. The special guest is the Minister of State in Charge of Primary and Secondary Education Hon. Dr Mathias Harebamungu.
The Flame of Remembrance will be received from Rusizi District by two 20-year-old Nyamasheke students, Alphonsine Uwintije and Antoine Niringiyimana, who attend APEKA secondary school. A choir from St Joseph’s School will sing ‘Urumuri Rutazima’ to welcome the flame. The Master of Ceremony for today’s event is Maurice Bayingana.
Testimony will be given by Jean-Marie Vianney Bagirishya (41), a survivor of the genocide and now the President of IBUKA in Nyamasheke. A poem will be read by Angélique Uwamahoro (16), a student at St Joseph’s School, and a member of the choir there.
Testimony will also be given by Théophile Turikumwe, a local leader in his village of Kavune in Kagano Sector. During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Theophile was not targeted for killing. His family hid Tutsi at their home, including the mother and sisters of Jean-Marie Vianney Bagirishya who is also giving testimony at today’s event. As a young man, Théophile saw the extent of discrimination against Tutsi, especially in schools, and will speak about this today.
A series of horrific massacres took place in Nyamasheke district during the genocide. At the Nyamasheke Parish Catholic church over 45,000 people were murdered and around Hanika Catholic Church approximately 11,000 people were killed. Many of the massacres occurred under the leadership of a wealthy local rice farmer named Yussuf Munyakazi who led the Bugarama Interahamwe militia. On 30 June 2010, the ICTR found him guilty of genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity. He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
Kwibuka Flame Tour Event Program for Nyamasheke District
When: 2:00 – 4:00pm, 9 February 2014
Where: Kagano, Nyamasheke District
Welcoming Remarks from the Master of Ceremony Maurice Bayingana Children’s
Choir signing Urumuri Rutazima as the Kwibuka Flame arrives
Remarks by Nyamasheke Mayor Jean Baptiste Habyarimana
Kwibuka20 Short Film – Remember, Unite, Renew (Kwibuka Twiyubaka)
Testimony from survivor Jean-Marie Vianney Bagirishya
Poem and song from Angélique Uwamahoro
Testimony from Théophile Turikumwe
MC asks guests to write on ribbons of remembrance
Remarks by Special Guest Minister Hon. Dr Mathias Harebamungu
Final performance of Urumuri Rutazima
Background Information on the Kwibuka Flame of Remembrance
The Kwibuka Flame symbolises remembrance as well as the resilience and courage of Rwandans over the past twenty years. Carried in a simple lamp, it will be used to light other lamps in communities around Rwanda. To mark twenty years since the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, all memorial fires throughout the country will stem from this single Kwibuka Flame. On returning to Kigali, President Paul Kagame will use the Kwibuka Flame to light the National Flame of Mourning. This will take place on 7 April 2014, marking the official beginning of the national mourning period. The flame will also be the source of the fire used at the candlelit vigil at Amahoro Stadium on the evening of 7 April 2014. Learn more about the Flame and its nationwide tour here.
Photos from today’s event will be available on the Kwibuka Flickr and videos on the Kwibuka YouTube channel.
Source:Kwibuka.rw
