HMD 2021 THEME & HOW IT CONNECTS TO RWANDA
Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on January 27th – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenhau, the largest Nazi death camp. On this day we remember the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
In the UK the day is co-ordinated by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. The Ishami Foundation works closely with the Trust, participating in events, sharing knowledge and resources and attending the partnership working group.
The Ishami Foundation works closely with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, participating in events, sharing knowledge and resources, and attending the partnership working groups.
2021 THEME: BE THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
This year’s theme for Holocaust Memorial Day is Be the Light in the Darkness.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust explain that it encourages us to reflect on the depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities have resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after Genocide.
Be the light in the darkness is an affirmation and a call to action for everyone marking Holocaust Memorial Day. This theme asks us to consider the different kinds of ‘darkness’, for example, identity-based persecution, misinformation, denial of justice; and different ways of ‘being the light’, for example, resistance, acts of solidarity, rescue and illuminating mistruths.
Increasing levels of denial, division and misinformation in today’s world mean we must remain vigilant against hatred and identity-based hostility. Rapid technological developments, a turbulent political climate, and world events beyond our control can leave us feeling helpless and insignificant. The utterly unprecedented times through which we are living currently are showing the very best of which humanity is capable but also – in some of the abuse and conspiracy theories being spread on social media – the much darker side of our world as well.
We can all stand in solidarity. We can choose to be the light in the darkness in a variety of ways and places – at home, in public, and online.
How does this year’s theme connect to Rwanda?
A light is a symbol of hope, goodness, wisdom and healing. By contrast, darkness symbolises evil, fear and despair. All these elements were part of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda where some people became the light in the darkness by providing help and support to those who needed it most and others became traitors and killed their own friends, neighbours and in some cases family members.
Genocide brings out the worst in humanity. But it also shows us courage and love. During the Genocide against the Tutsi survivors received support and help from their neighbours, friends and rescuers. Many survived because people hid them during the Genocide at great risk to themselves. These individuals defied the norm at the time. They truly became the light in the darkness in the moment of need.
Survivors in turn have learned to forgive the perpetrators of Genocide who did them such harm, in order to heal, both personally and within their communities.
Some perpetrators also came out of their darkness by asking for forgiveness and willingly contributing to post-Genocide justice processes. They shared information that helped survivors to find out where their loved ones had been killed and abandoned. This allowed survivors to bury their family members, giving them some form of closure and a chance to move on with their own healing.
The remarkable bravery and courage of how Rwandans have managed their journey of tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing of the last 27 years since after the Genocide can be seen as a great example of how to be the light in the darkness.
The Light in the Darkness during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda:
In times when societies turn wild and indulge in barbarianism, there always are a handful of people, men and women, who do not join the pack. They not only dissociate from massacres but they also do everything to denounce and rescue as many victims as possible. They are most of the time simple people, who have accepted to shelter one or several tracked people, to hide them in a hole, a bush or any other place likely to save them. Sometimes, they help them find refuge in safer places. So doing, these people represent a light of humanness and civilisation within a dehumanised world.
As this was the case in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, we have put together selected names of people from across Rwanda who hid survivors during the Genocide at great risk to themselves. These individuals defied the norm at the time. They truly became the light in the darkness in the moment of need.
Rwanda holds Damas Gisimba in high honour for saving over 400 people in an orphanage under his management in Nyamirambo – Kigali in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. 80 out of the rescued were adults and 325 were children. When the mass killings began 27 years ago, brothers Elvis, Jean Francois and Damas Gisimba were running the orphanage which was founded by their late parents. Damas, in particular, is today regarded as a hero after he stood in the way of the militias who arrived at the orphanage, intent on killing over 400 children and adults who had taken refuge at the center. Damas was later awarded the Presidential Order of Umurinzi — meaning protector — in recognition of his heroic actions. Although many Rwandans consider him a hero, Damas, says that his deed was motivated by compassion and nobility of spirit.
Rutazihara helped many non-identified people in his home town of Kamembe in the western of Rwanda, and guarded them with his own gun and paid money to the killers to ransom them. He did so out of rejection of Genocide ideology.
Nsengiyumva Ferdinand from Kamembe in former Cyangugu prefecture (current Rusizi) in the western of Rwanda hid 40 people. He informed them on the killers’ plans and helped them escape. He did so out of friendship.
Ndamage Ezéchiel from Ruhango in the southern province of Rwanda hid 105 people. Afterwards he helped them escape and paid money to ransom them. He even mobilised other people to do like him. He said that he acted out of compassion
Father Stany Rubanie from Ruhango in the southern province of Rwanda is believed to have rescued around 450 people. He hid them in the ceilings of his Ruhango parish premises. He gave money to the killers to ransom them. He said that he did it out of faith and compassion.
Ndoricimpa Marcel a very ardent in his Adventist Church Burundian man from Ruhango in the southern province of Rwanda hid Gatabazi Seleman, Kagabo, Mukabagire Consolée and her younger sister and many other non-identified persons. He acted out of faith.
Borice Eros an Italian Rogationist priest, from Busasamana in the town of Nyanza in the southern province rescued over 1000 people. He hid them in the orphanage that he was in charge of in Nyanza. He faced a lot of difficulties. He was harassed by Interahamwe killers and he had to pay huge amounts of money out of the funds meant to feed the orphans. He had also to feed all this mass of refugees. He raised his country flag, Italy, in front of the orphanage for protection. He was seriously traumatized after Genocide. He contributed a lot of testimonies to Gacaca Courts.
Ndwaniye Ladislas from Ndora in Gisagara district in the southern province hid Hakuzimana and Nyiramisago. But he also hid other non-identified persons. Yet, many people in his family were killers. He also kept money deposited by Tutsi fugitives and gave it back after Genocide. He acted out of compassion.
Masabo Alexis from Mugombwa area in Gisagara district in the southern province hid Mukansanga and Assumpta. But killers surprised and wounded them, leaving them for dead. Masabo retrieved them from the mass grave they had been thrown into and came back with them. He was able to rescue them. He acted out of compassion.
Mukaruhama Mathilde from Karama in Huye district southern province rescued Mushimiyimana Rose. She found her in a place she had been left by her mother’s killers. Because her husband was a killer, she went back to her parents’ and stayed there all along Genocide. That’s how she was able to rescue her. She did so out of compassion.
All relatives from Muhazi in the eastern province of Rwanda collaborated in their rescuing actions. They successfully rescued a hundred people, hiding them in a forest close to their houses. They acted out of compassion and rejection of Genocide barbarianism.
This old lady from Rukumberi in Ngoma district eastern province rescued a lot of people. She even gave her breast to a baby after its mother’s death. She escaped with 4 little girls during Genocide and brought them back safe. These are Tuyishimire Marie Claire, Umuraza Alphonsine, Umuhoza Raïla, and Umutesi Rachel. She acted out of compassion.
BELOW ARE SOME LINKS TO OUR SCHOOL RESOURCES WHERE YOU CAN ALSO READ SURVIVOR STORIES ABOUT DARKNESS AND LIGHT DURING THE 1994 GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI IN RWANDA: