Wikipedia, a popular free online encyclopedia, has urged Rwandans to make use of the platform by posting and curating content about the country, which it says is heavily underrepresented on the platform. The call echoes government and other stakeholders who have also appealed to Rwandan citizens to document and write about their country’s story, which would counter flawed and misleading narratives by particularly foreign storytellers and propagandists. Like most African countries, the story of Rwanda is often told by western ideologues who are keen on driving narratives that fit neo-colonialist and imperialist agendas. As a country we’ve come a long way and still have a long journey ahead of us. Yet, we barely tell the story of our near-destruction, redemption, rebuilding and aspirations. That has created a gap that western interns and self-styled specialists have moved to exploit, with prejudice as well as preconceived notions and narratives they seek to propagate, much to our detriment. Thanks in part to our peculiar and tragic history, Rwanda has had more than its fair share of misrepresentation in the world literature. But it’s our responsibility as Rwandans to set the record straight. Indeed, no one out there owes us an explanation why our story – and that of Africa in general – has often been misrepresented. It is our job to do more than just debunking lies whenever they are told, but to continuously tell the true story of our past, of the proud and regrettable episodes of our history, our traditions and heritage, and to project our values and our aspirations to the rest of the world. The responsibility to document our story falls on all adult Rwandans across the different generations. And we are not short of compatriots to look up to. Trailblazers like author Yolande Mukagasana are a good example of what is possible when you put your heart and soul into something. A survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, having lost her husband, children and other relatives in the killings, Mukagasana recently set up a foundation with a mission to fight genocide denial and minimisation. But there are other authors and artists who have taken it upon themselves to counter false narratives about their country and to contribute meaningfully toward the discourse on Rwanda and Africa. Young people, in particular, can learn a thing or two from these leading lights and make their voices (and perspectives) heard. Tell your own story, and not allow others to tell it for you – because they will, at best, tell only a fraction of it, at worst, distort or even invent it altogether.
