Memory, healing, and intergenerational dialogue in today’s Rwanda
By Éloge Willy Kaneza
LEWISTON, Maine — A solemn silence filled a hall at Bates College on the evening of April 11 as students, survivors, faculty, and community members gathered to mark Kwibuka 32, the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Held at Memorial Commons in Chase Hall, the commemoration brought together participants from across Maine — including members of the Rwandan, Burundian and Congolese communities, American residents, students from multiple colleges, and faith leaders — for an evening of remembrance, testimony, and intergenerational reflection under the theme of “Memory, healing, and intergenerational dialogue in today’s Rwanda.”
Organized by students, the Bates French and Francophone Studies Department, Ibuka Maine, and community partners, the event combined a panel discussion, academic reflection, student testimony, and a candlelight vigil honoring victims of the genocide.
The commemoration came as Rwanda and the global community entered the annual Week of Mourning, the first seven days of a one-hundred-day remembrance period marking the genocide’s duration from April to July 1994. The week begins each April 7, recognized by the United Nations (UN) as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
In his annual message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world not only to remember but to act. “It’s not enough to remember the dead. We must learn from past failures and protect the living,” Guterres said, calling for stronger action against hate speech, denial, and incitement to violence.
A history remembered: one hundred days that changed Rwanda
The genocide was triggered on April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down near Kigali.
What followed was one of the fastest and most brutal episodes of mass killing in modern history. In roughly one hundred days, more than 1 million people were killed, according to UN estimates — the vast majority Tutsi, along with Hutu and others who opposed the genocide.
The violence was organized, systematic, and fueled by extremist propaganda, targeting individuals based solely on identity.
That history framed the commemoration, where speakers emphasized that remembrance is not symbolic alone, but a responsibility carried across generations.
“Commemorating is not condemning”
Among the organizers who spoke to Amjambo Africa was Deborah Meillah Asiimwe Hirwa, a student organizer whose family history is deeply connected to Rwanda’s liberation struggle.
“For me, to commemorate is not condemning,” Hirwa said. “It is honoring the lives of innocent Tutsi killed during the genocide in 1994. It is a way of maintaining that ‘never again.’”
She reflected on a recent conversation with a friend who questioned whether commemoration is equivalent to condemnation. “Commemorating is a way of assuming responsibility as a country and honoring the memory of the victims without blaming anyone or putting shame on anyone,” she said.
Hirwa’s father, who grew up in exile in Uganda and later joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), was among those who helped liberate Rwanda in 1994. He later died after liberation.
“That history is part of why I cannot be silent,” she said.
Intergenerational trauma and healing
Enathe Muhawenimana, another student organizer who spoke to Amjambo Africa, emphasized the importance of intergenerational dialogue in healing historical trauma.
“It’s very easy for parents who experienced the genocide to pass wounds to their children,” she said. “Children can inherit the trauma of their parents. Healing comes from coming together in solidarity, but also healing together.”
She said Kwibuka events help bridge emotional and historical gaps between generations. “This is about understanding each other,” she said. “Not only remembering what happened, but also learning how to heal together.”
Academic reflection: memory and responsibility
The event also included a documentary screening introduced by Alexandre E. Dauge-Roth, a professor of French and Francophone Studies at Bates College. Dauge-Roth is a scholar specializing in the representation of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He has conducted research and educational work in Rwanda, including collaborative projects with survivors and students.
He said educational spaces must confront difficult histories with clarity. “Silence can be protective, but it can also have negative effects in the long term.”
He emphasized historical precision. “The genocide in Rwanda was a genocide against the Tutsi. Understanding that is essential.”
And he warned that dehumanizing discourse must be taken seriously even before violence occurs. “Such discourses do not always lead to genocide,” he said, “but they create the conditions that make it possible.”
“It is not just a number”: survivor testimony after the panel
Landry Kwizera, President of the Rwandan Community Abroad — Maine Chapter (RCAM) and a genocide survivor, spoke after the panel discussion, offering a deeply personal testimony. “For us as survivors, it is not just a number,” Kwizera said. “It’s our parents, our neighbors, our co-workers, people we went to school with.”
He rejected any form of denial or distortion of history. “Remembering is not an option,” he said. “To forget would be to abandon those we lost.” Kwizera also emphasized that the genocide targeted people for who they were. “When we say it was a genocide against the Tutsi, it is not negotiable.”
Recalling his own experience as a child in 1994, he said,“I was six years old. We didn’t understand everything, but our parents knew we were being targeted.”
Despite the trauma, he emphasized resilience and responsibility. “We are not standing here as victims,” he said. “We are standing here as the light and the hope for a better future.” He also warned about the dangers of distortion. “If we do not speak clearly, others will distort history for us. And that is how denial grows.”
A student voice on memory
Benjamin Ndamukunda, 21, one of the student organizers of the event, spoke to Amjambo Africa and reflected on why his generation engages with Kwibuka.
“This event has shaped my understanding of who we are as a people,” he said. “It shows how resilient our community is.” He said commemoration should not be misunderstood. “I don’t think it revives hate. It brings awareness so we can learn from mistakes and ensure they never happen again.”
Ndamukunda added that even young people born after the genocide have a responsibility to engage with its history. “It may feel distant,” he said, “but it is still part of our identity and responsibility.”
Community reflection
Among the attendees was Janet Letters, a member of The Ark Church in Lewiston, who came to support friends affected by the genocide. “I was so blessed to attend,” she said. “It was very important for me to be there to support them and to understand what they went through.”
She added,“Genocide is a great evil, and no one stepped in to prevent it. I pray for global awareness so this never happens again.”
Student reflection: Solomon Kayobotsi
Student Solomon Kayobotsi, a member of the Bates College rowing team, delivered a monologue during the program reflecting on memory and identity. He described Kwibuka as “a reclaiming of truth.”
“It’s where silence is broken, and memories are guarded like a treasure,” he said.
Institutional responsibilit
James L. Reese, Associate Dean of Students for International Student Programs at Bates College, also spoke to Amjambo Africa, emphasizing the role of universities in fostering dialogue.
“These commemorations are a strong example of healing,” he said. “They help us think about justice, fairness, and responsibility.”
He added that education must extend beyond knowledge. “Students can take what they learn and become advocates for better societies,” he said.
Memory and vigil
Genocide survivor and mental health counselor Anne Marie Mukankusi, who participated in the panel discussion, reminded the audience of the lasting weight of memory. “All those things you see, I witnessed them as a teenager,” she said. “We cannot afford to forget.”
The evening concluded with a candlelight vigil, as participants stood in silence honoring victims of the genocide. As candles flickered across the hall, the message carried beyond Lewiston: memory is not only about the past — it is a responsibility for the future. Or, as participants echoed in different voices throughout the evening: Never again must be more than words.
