As Rwanda marks the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, young people are paying tribute to the resilience of their elders who rebuilt the country from devastation into a developing nation. They said learning about the past is not only a way to honor the victims but also a call to action for building a stronger, united future. This message was reflected by youth who attended the screening of “Beyond the Genocide,” a documentary film screened at the Kigali Genocide Memorial on April 8. ALSO READ: Films to help you learn true story of the Genocide against the Tutsi Produced by Rwandan creative Zion Sulaiman Mukasa Matovu, the film traces the story of Rwanda before, during, and after the Genocide against the Tutsi. It features testimonies from survivors and perpetrators, archived political speeches, and reflections from today’s youth. The film, which is yet to be made public, showcases the pain that Rwanda went through and the resilience that led to forgiveness, unity, reconciliation, and development while inspiring the youth, especially the post-genocide youth, to carry the history while protecting the country and fighting genocide denial. According to Matovu, the film shows how Rwanda was a country full of love and unity before colonization which brought and spread division among families and passed on to children over time until eventually fueling the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Kwibuka 31: Our Past event returns on April 9 “It is a movie that shows you Rwanda of the 1990s. It shows you the 1994 Rwanda, where actually, it was no longer a country, and then, because of the decisions they made, regardless of how much money or resources they had, it shows you the Rwanda of today,” he added. Matovu noted that, while Rwanda’s history carries deep scars, it is also a story of healing and pride. There was a time, he said, when being Rwandan carried shame, but now it has become a source of strength and dignity. “There is that sense of being proud that we wanted to show in the film. How our fathers, our mothers had nothing and they came up with something that today we look at,” he added. “Even some of us, we look at it because it is so beautiful and forget that actually this was pain.” Erick Mutabazi, a young participant who followed the screening, said the documentary helped him understand the country’s history on a deeper level. “It was a huge opportunity for me as the youth, to learn again and deeply understand the history of our country which motivated me to keep building peace among my fellow youth and colleagues at work and everywhere I can go so that we protect ourselves from going back to what we watched in the movie,” he said. Mutabazi emphasized that young Rwandans, having benefited from good governance and access to education, have a responsibility to share their country’s history and counter genocide denial, especially through digital platforms. “So we should go to those social media, and challenge deniers and those spreading hate through bad speeches. As youth, we have to take the first step to give a clear explanation of what genocide is, how it was carried out, prepared, and how it was stopped,” he added. “We should give information that is based on the truth in order to challenge those who spread genocide ideology. So, we need to deeply educate ourselves on the history, so that we provide truthful and credible information.” Albine Noella Isimwe, 22, said the film was a powerful reminder of the resilience and justice that guided Rwanda’s healing journey. She noted the film's depiction of Gacaca (Rwanda’s community-based justice system) as a symbol of unity and restoration. Ishimwe called on other youth to continuously learn about the history of Rwanda, particularly the genocide against Tutsi, to be able to challenge denier with the truth. “We have to learn the history because when you know it, you know how to defend it. And the good thing about history is that when you know better, you do better,” she said. Marie-France Niragire, the president of the Rwanda Arts Council, commended Matovu and his team for using creative expression to tell the truth about Rwanda’s history. Niragire reminded the youth that art was used as a weapon during the genocide to spread hate, but today, it can be a force for unity and reconciliation. “I encourage other film producers, actors, and investors in this field to increase production of films that show the truth about the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. And there are so many stories that have not been worked on, so there is no scarcity in stories. In reality, Rwandans have a lot of stories about our history,” she said.
