Why Remember the Past? The 17th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi

The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi’s in Rwanda has been extensively written on, though many still baffle as to how and why it happened. However, the reality is that it happened. Summarizing an answer on how and why this happened may raise more questions. Thus, one may be advised to read the history and people of Rwanda to get a better understanding. When focusing on the genocide event itself, we learn about an unimaginable experience and act of violence, where, in as short as three month, over one million people were killed by machetes, shot, bitten to death, or even buried alive. The brutal killing started on the 7th April 1994 and lasted until early July, leaving a devastated community that not only lost over a million lives, but that also ended up with over 37,000 unaccompanied children, estimated 100,000 widowers and over 500.000 rape victims, not to mention the damage to the infrastructure.

Since 1994, it has been an emotional experience for the Rwandan community, but more so to the survivors of the genocide. Thus, every year the seventh of April has been set aside as a national week to remember the human demoralizing events that happened in the 1994 genocide. 2011 marks the seventeenth year after the genocide.

After seventeen years is it necessary to remember? What effect does it have for the Rwandan community as a whole and the world?

Why remember?

In African philosophy, the spirit of the dead is believed to be honored as a living spirit. Nonetheless, the experience of Rwanda may be different or beyond the African ethos. Living through the genocide makes every day of the past 17 years seem like yesterday. The memories remain alive and painful. Wounds are still fresh as some do not yet know where their beloved families’ bodies are and how they were killed. Bones are still found in some places and are sought to be buried in a respected manner. The nation might set aside a ‘one week of commemoration,’ but for survivors of the genocide it is an everyday experience. In other words, no matter how much comfort may be given, nothing can take away the fact that one is remaining alone with no family member and no one to turn to as a result of the genocide. No matter how the country may develop and provide support to the survivors, memories of dead bodies and the blood of one’s loved ones can be censored at some point but not forgotten.

There are still home-headed children and widowers and the rape survivors of the genocide are around in our communities. The legacy of genocide and its consequences cannot be denied. In fact it may be a wrong for one to forget. I believe that only the future is prepared by the past.

Nevertheless, even though there are still tears and trauma, these days of remembrance is a time of offering dignity to the victims and a time to honour survivors as a way to enlighten the future as we journey together towards healing and reconciliation. It is a moment to look back, be honest with ourselves and make sure that the legacy of the genocide grounds our experience and offers hope for the Rwandans and the world. This is a time of remembering and reassessing of what is or rather what should be understood as part of our human nature. Who are we? Have we lost of who we are or should be? Is it possible to re-locate?

This year’s 17th commemoration was given the theme ‘upholding the truth, preserve our dignity’ that is to be shared and used in different places, nationally and internally. The National Commission for the Fight against the Genocide in Rwanda explains the theme by saying:

Remembering allows not only victims, but also the accused and offenders go through a process of healing, earnestly accepting themselves, their actions, and taking a step toward a unifying future. Though we may not forget, we can definitely move on. All that is needed is to sincerely press forward, with human dignity. Giving a challenging talk, a speaker at the 17th commemoration day organized by the Rwandan Students Association at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus, on the 9th April, argued that “if the world has to be a peaceful place, we need to ask ourselves what it means to be a human before we call ourselves human” (by Dr. Munyaratzi).

The moment of remembrance is an opportunity to educate the young generation not to follow the indoctrination marked mostly by bad leadership, which, admittedly, has become our history. Remembering is a stepping stone to make for a better future. The 1994 genocide has been part of not only our life history but also that of our regeneration to come. Its remark is undeniable. However, it should be a moment to cherish and thrive for a better life, with a single mind as we all say never again.