As I pen down this article, we are within the 23rd commemoration week and continuing the remembering for 100 days when the genocide against the Tutsi happened.
If you happen to be a munyarwanda or a munyamahanga (visitor) residing within the land of a thousand hills and you haven’t gotten a clue what this is all about, this piece might help.
Here are a few wrong assumptions or arguments some people have marshaled up in order to shun the commemoration and take cyunamo flight to other countries or cyunamo hibernation (staying away).
This is not my concern, they claim. I need to be away, they explain. Hmm…. Really? The Pope apologized, so did the UN and European politicians, and the list goes on. Now what’s your excuse? How does it not concern you?
As critical a time as this is, the whole country is somber. Now we shall have the cyunamo expert shed more light on the issues above mentioned.
The Kigalian: Hello in light of your experience over the years do you ever experience cyunamo fatigue?
Cyunamo expert: Oh no! In fact, this is the healthiest part of the year when sobriety and reflection is at its highest peak.
The Kigalian: What are the pitfalls to look out for during this season?
Cyunamo expert: That it is open season for the negationists; disruptor’s who want to divert our focus.
The Kigalian: Who are these folks?
Cyunamo expert: Killers, deniers, disgruntled politicians, Hollywood heroes (remember the Rusesabagina)? fake news media, social media, false activists, etc.
The Kigalian: What can we tell these evangelical hippies and African foreigners who tell us to get over kwibuka?
Cyunamo expert: That, it is more blessed to visit a house in mourning than that in celebration, if they read their bible that is.
These hippies should know that we prayed from churches throughout the pogroms leading up to the genocide, cathedrals were filled every morning. Priests never reprimanded killers, nor blessed and edified their work!
The Kigalian: Thank you for your nyunganizi (contribution) I think this is all we shall take for now!
In a nutshell, there is a lot we can learn from the pain within Kwibuka if you have a tradition of fasting. Fast from any form of discouraging talk and learn to appreciate your humanity by joining your brethren this week as they take this step towards inner healing.
