Poetry has over the past years emerged as a powerful medium for remembrance, healing, and education. At various events, poets used their voices not only to mourn but also to preserve history and inspire hope for future generations, as Rwanda marks the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Among the poets is Odile Karire, whose poem ‘Iwacu’ struck a deep chord with audiences. The piece explored themes of exile, memory, and national healing. “My poem reflects the journey of a Rwandan who went into exile during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It sheds light on their experiences in foreign lands and the transformation of Rwanda into the peaceful and united nation we see today,” said Karire. “Through the lens of my own family’s history, I show how reconciliation has taken root. We use poetry, especially in our mother tongue, as a way preserving and telling our stories and history. It’s a tool to educate the younger generations which was not around so they can understand what others endured and how far we have come and what they have to do to preserve the unit and peace our country achieved so far.” Through his poem “Wansigiye Irungu,” Sylvestre Nsengimana honoured the memory of a genocide victim, reflecting on the life they lived and how their courage and aspirations continue to inspire the living to carry forward their legacy with resilience and purpose. “My poem reflects on someone I personally knew who passed away what brought him joy, what he accomplished, and how his life became a source of motivation for me,” he said. When people listen to such poems, Nsengimana said, they don’t just mourn, they find inspiration. “It reminds us that we have a duty to continue building our country and to live purposefully on behalf of those who are no longer with us,” he said. Nsengimana says poetry serves as a mirror, helping people see that they are not alone in their struggles, that others have been through similar pain. And through that shared understanding, people begin to heal and contribute to the development of our nation. “It is more than art it’s a platform for expressing thoughts, processing grief, and fostering collective resilience,” he said.
