Genocide and War (1994)

Ufiteyezu Manzi David wants to tell his foster sister-cousin, Nyirahategekima Marie Josie, the story of his survival during the 1994 genocide and the fate of their extended family. She listens to details of his extraordinary story of many escapes from death, and the horrors he witnessed as a young boy. The story describes how his parents’ mixed marriage saved him, plus the outreach from persons of different backgrounds. Even cows were his salvation one awful day. Another time he was the only survivor of a bomb blast that killed over 100.

Kubwimana Jean d’Amour would rather listen to history from his father than read it in a history book “written by Frenchmen.” In this interview, he listens to Bisangwa Simon’s personal history for the first time, an experience that both men find beneficial. Bisangwa Simon has had a chaotic life; a high school dropout, he lived through several wars, overcame addiction to alcohol and drugs, and survived a curse. He tells his son how their family survived the genocide by supporting each other in hiding.

Vianney snuck out of Rwanda to Burundi by crawling through forest surrounded by an army. He had a plan to join the forces that were fighting the genocide. When he got to Burundi, he forgot this plan and spent his time replenishing with food that had been donated to the refugee camp where he lived. He got his wakeup call when he was visited by a man he would never forget. The legacy he hopes to leave with his brother is that of a nation that rebuilds its cultural institutions and relies on its youth to think like heroes.

Gahongaire Emelda decided to become a pastor after witnessing the love for God that her grandfather had. After the genocide, she decided to serve God by helping orphans, and she adopted Manirakiza Jean de Dieu, who she considers to be her own son. Manirakiza Jean de Dieu has many important questions about the causes of the genocide, and Gahongaire Emelda patiently answers him and gives him advice. She tells him that the most important thing is to love God and fight against anything that could lead to genocide again.