Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame, Rwanda’s First Lady, attended a ceremony to honor Queen Mother Rosalie Gicanda, who was murdered during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Dignitaries, community leaders, and citizens gathered at the Palace, where Mrs. Kagame paid tribute to Queen Gicanda’s resilience and dignity.
Mrs Kagame’s attendance emphasized the significance in Rwanda’s history of Gicanda as a symbol of hope, and her enduring legacy as a guiding light for unity and reconciliation.
The ceremony featured prayers, traditional rites, and reflections on Queen Gicanda’s life. Wreaths were laid at her gravesite, underscoring Rwanda’s commitment to honoring its past while looking to the future.
Queen Gicanda assumed the role in 1959, a period of profound change in Rwanda. However, her life was tragically cut short during the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
Queen Gicanda’s enduring impact on Rwanda, and her death was felt deeply across the nation.
The commemoration events in Nyanza are part of Rwanda’s annual Kwibuka mourning period, a time to reflect on the genocide’s trauma and reaffirm the nation’s commitment to never forget. Queen Gicanda’s memory remains a symbol of resilience and unity as Rwanda continues its journey of healing and renewal.
