PHOTOS : First Lady Jeannette Kagame inaugurates Jardin de la Mémoire

First Lady Jeannette Kagame, on Sunday, September 11, inaugurates the “Jardin de la Mémoire” (Garden of Memory) at Nyanza-Kicukiro Genocide Memorial. The garden lies on three hectares of land, and is constructed to symbolically depict what happened in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the life and rebirth of the nation after the dark history. The garden comprises various features that depict how the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi were killed, how some managed to survive, and the resilience of Rwandans post-genocide. It comprises a small pond and an artificial swamp for remembering those who were killed and thrown into water bodies, a pit for those who were thrown into pits, a sorghum garden for those who survived by hiding there, among other features. The place also has small artificial hills for commemorating those who died on hills as they fled for their lives, some flowers that symbolise affection to the departed souls, as well as a flame of remembrance that shows the hope that Rwandans have for a bright future. In nutshell the place symbolises life and rebirth after the Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as the protection that was offered by nature during the Genocide in which over a million lives were lost. Through pictures, Dan Nsengiyumva, The New Times photographer covered the inauguration of the garden and brought pictures that highlight different important parts of the place.

In Pictures

PHOTOS : First Lady Jeannette Kagame inaugurates Jardin de la Mémoire