Yolande Mukagasana's new book, Umurage w'Urubyiruko (Legacy of the Youth), seeks to help young people better understand the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, identify genocide ideology, and embrace values that promote unity and prevent similar atrocities. The book was launched on Friday, June 26, at the Kigali Public Library during an event attended by education officials, secondary school students and leaders. Speaking during the event, Mukagasana, 72, said the book was inspired by her desire to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. I once fell and injured my shoulder. When I struggled to drive afterwards, I thought I might die before sharing everything I wanted my children to know. That is when I started writing, Mukagasana said. ALSO READ: Yolande Mukagasana calls on writers to preserve their stories for the next generation The Genocide survivor explained that the book promotes love, patriotism and unity while warning young people against genocide ideology, denial and all forms of divisionism. I want to leave young people a legacy of love and teach them to reject anything that promotes division. I had children, but because of divisionism I no longer have them. Young people should live as brothers and sisters and never allow anyone to mislead them into embracing genocide ideology, she said. Mukagasana's new book explores Rwanda's values, history, the Genocide against the Tutsi, genocide ideology and denial, while equipping young readers with knowledge to identify and challenge attempts to distort historical facts. Mukagasana said that Umurage w'Urubyiruko is the first volume in a planned series, with subsequent volumes already in preparation. She also thanked the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, for writing the foreword to book. ALSO READ: Five books that bear witness to Genocide against the Tutsi During the event, Nelson Mbarushimana, Director General of Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), said the book complements existing teaching materials used in schools. One of REB's responsibilities is to develop curricula and teaching materials. This book complements the competency-based curriculum and the books we already have on the Genocide against the Tutsi, Mbarushimana said. He noted that the book will help learners understand Rwanda's history, the factors that led to the Genocide, and the importance of rejecting genocide ideology and all forms of discrimination. Since today's youth will lead Rwanda in the future, this book will serve as a foundation for teachers and students to better understand our history, strengthen patriotism, embrace hard work, uphold good values and become responsible citizens committed to developing their country, he said. Mbarushimana also said that REB will distribute the book to schools across the country to ensure it is accessible to learners. We are putting in place a programme to ensure these books reach schools so that every student under our responsibility can access and benefit from them, he said. Students who attended the book launch reflected in the lession they learnt as a generation born after the Genocide against the Tutsi. Micomyiza Honoré, a Senior Six student at College Saint André, said the book answered many questions he had about Rwanda's history. He said one of the sections that stood out explains the Ten Hutu Commandments and how they were used to promote ethnic hatred years before the genocide. We discuss Ndi Umunyarwanda every week at school, but I did not fully understand its meaning until I read this book. It has helped me appreciate its importance, and I encourage fellow students to read it, he said. People who deny the Genocide spend time studying history in order to distort it. As Rwandans, we must also read and know our history so that we can counter genocide denial, especially on social media, using facts, he said. Rachel Igirubuntu, a student at Kagarama Secondary School, said the book broadened her understanding of how hatred was systematically cultivated before culminating in the Genocide that claimed one million lives. I learned about the cruelty that characterised the Genocide and how Tutsi were dehumanised, including being compared to parasites that had to be eliminated. I also learned about the Ten Hutu Commandments and how they spread hatred, she said. She noted that the book helps young people understand how genocide ideology develops over time, making it an important tool in preventing history from repeating itself. The ideology of hatred was spread gradually. As young people, we need to understand how it started and how it operated so that history never repeats itself. This book is therefore very important for our generation, she said.
