Every February 1, Rwandans reminisce about the virtue of heroism that is the bedrock of modern Rwanda. On this day, they celebrate and applaud the farsighted brave men and women who in history established the nation of Rwanda and those who came after them, for their contribution to making the country what it is today. ALSO READ: When courage calls: Lessons from Rwanda’s heroes By unsung heroes in our midst, I don't mean forgetting the farsighted brave men and women of our history but rather emphasizing that heroism is not only about historic and fallen figures. It is also about the daily actions of citizens, leaders, and youth who contribute to national unity, development, and the rebuilding of the country following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Agathe Uwilingiyimana: A hero’s legacy through the eyes of her family Patriotism among Rwanda's young professionals is exceptional. I have seen this in a number of them who, after graduating with Doctor of Philosophy degrees, prefer not to pursue better economic opportunities, higher salaries, and professional development in stable democracies, but return home despite high unemployment rates and uncertainty about getting better jobs. Let me say, like Kwame Nkrumah, these young Rwandans are returning home, not because they were born Rwandans, but because Rwanda was born in them. Rwanda was born in them through the selflessness, bravery, humility, and patriotism of their parents, the pioneers of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), many of whom are still alive and remain steadfast models of patriotism. In an article titled RPF-Inkotanyi: The Message of Hope... celebrating 30 years of its existence, Gatete Ruhumuliza compared the achievements of the RPF to the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi, a philosophy that believes things are more beautiful because they were once broken and then repaired. They use gold to repair broken objects to highlight how their beauty becomes sublime and priceless, due not to the breakage, but to the masterful repair. Rwanda is a precious vase; she was broken into a million pieces. The RPF has since been taking care of her, and today she appears much prettier than she ever was before, wrote Gatete. The RPF could not have achieved this without selfless, brave, humble, and patriotic leaders like Major General Fred Gisa Rwigema, the first commander-in-chief of the RPF's armed wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and Paul Kagame, who assumed command after Rwigema's death, along with a large number of officers, many of whom have passed away while others are still among us. I cannot forget the unselfish cadres, most of them with PhDs and great jobs with high salaries in Western countries like France, Germany, Belgium, the United States, and elsewhere, who turned their backs on this lucrative, top-tier corporate life and dedicated themselves to the RPF to propel the liberation struggle, despite the unpredictable nature of the path ahead. They stood at the precipice of a new, untrodden chapter, with a vision, a conviction, and a belief that a shattered nation could rise. And they were right, the nation rose. Both Rwigema and Kagame are revered as foundational yet distinct pillars of inspiration for RPA soldiers and the liberation struggle. Rwigema is revered as Imanzi, or supreme hero, whose sacrifice initiated the liberation, while Kagame is honoured for transforming the force into a professional, modern, and capable military. Their legacies continue to be foundational to the ethos, discipline, and operational success of RDF, serving as a continuous source of inspiration for today's soldiers. Through 31 years of my life in Rwanda, I have come to have deep respect for the discipline, humility, and tenacity of the women and men who are willing to take on a way of life requiring sacrifices that are largely unseen and sometimes misunderstood. They live among us, and no one fears their encounter. When you see them, you know they are there to protect you, not to harm you. They are people with families, obligations, interests, hopes, and dreams, but they have made the commitment to set all of these aside to protect all of us. The Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour (CHENO) has three categories of heroes: Imanzi, Imena, and Ingenzi. While the Imanzi category is posthumous, Imena and Ingenzi categories include living people. Will CHENO include some of our unsung heroes on the list of the nation's heroes? Although Paul Kagame is not on the official list, my hope is that he becomes the first of our unsung heroes on that list. The senior RPF/RPA pioneers repaired our broken vase and made it silver. Our youth are helping make it golden. Without doubt, the future generation will make it a diamond nation in the heart of Africa.
