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Jul 21st, 2007 - 23:35:48 |
Gilbert NDAHAYO
VIDEO TESTIMONY PROJECT FOR RWANDA'S GENOCIDE
An initiative by EAMP RWANDA
Founded by a survivor and filmmaker Gilbert NDAHAYO
“If you knew me, and if you really knew yourself, then you would not have killed me”
(Felicien Ntagengwa, survivor of Rwanda’s genocide)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Silence has never helped anyone especially in the eras of ethnic cleansing and genocide. The story of Rwanda is unique. Genocide and acts of genocide were committed by Rwandans on Rwandans and within 100 days, one millions lives have perished. The post-genocide government dedicated the mouth of April to bury in dignity the dead bones that are being discovered where they were thrown. This situation continues today.
Gilbert Ndahayo's family was murdered in his home courtyard after being taken from the convent where they sought refuge. "When the killers came, I led the line. It was over", testifies Albert Murekezi who was saved by a soldier he used to drive. His family, ten people in total, was killed in there. "I told my sisters to hurry to quicken our death; nobody was killed by a bulled. They were burnt alive after being hit with hoes", he added. The filmmaker Gilbert lived with the bones and remains of his parents and two hundred other people who were killed with them for twelve years until last year when they were buried in the dignity at Gisozi Memorial site.
Mr. Gilbert Ndahayo's first confession in the making of his debut documentary film “Behind this convent” came in March 2007. "Rwanda has suffered a lot. I have suffered a lot. I want to express it," says Ndahayo to the BBC reporter Abby D'Arcy. Indeed, the first collection of testimonies undertaken by EDUCATIONAL ARTS AND MEDIA PROJECT did not receive any single financial funding though the idea sounds of a great importance. "The making of this film was a really hard thing to do," Gilbert said. "But I used it to try to heal myself." This collection of nearly 50 video testimonies was compiled into Gilbert Ndahayo’s debut 45 min. heart rending documentary titled "Behind this convent”.
EDUCATIONAL ARTS AND MEDIA PROJECT was established by the filmmaker Gilbert to collect and preserve those stories, those memories of survivors and other witnesses of genocide and "disseminate voices that will never be silent." In the last year two years, we have collected 50 video testimonies.
VISION
Our vision is to create a world without prejudice, racism, and discrimination: a world of peaceful coexistence between all human beings.
MISSION
To collect, preserve and disseminate video testimonies of survivors and witnesses of Rwanda’s genocide;
To develop engaging genocide educational programs; and
To raise funds to improve the livelihood of genocide survivors.
RESOURCES
Jacqueline Human Rights Corner;
Kigali Memorial Site;
The Government Of Rwanda;
Aerg – Students’ Survivors Association;
The International community
Human rights organizations;
Media
OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES
Lack of contemporary audio-visual knowledge for collecting and preserving memories of genocide;
Lack of equipments and funding for the collection and preservation of video testimonies; and
Lack of space for storage, studio work and maintenance of testimonies recorded.
STRATEGIES
Illustrate the aspects and effects of the politics of hatred;
Produce educational materials about survivors and witnesses of genocide;
Enhance the world awareness of the continuing suffering of survivors of genocide ;
Promote the culture of filmmaking as a way to preserve the visual history of genocide;
Use films and video as a medium for the truth and reconciliation debate; and
Identify partnership opportunities with people and organization engaged in similar activities.
WAYS TO MEASURE AND REPORT PROGRESS
Video testimonies collected;
Video distributed to support the mission of EAMP RWANDA;
Film screenings held at local venues, schools, libraries, conferences, corporations and film festivals;
Hands-on workshops illustrating the aspect and effects of genocide;
Level of awareness generated about genocide and acts of genocide;
Improvement in the livelihood of survivors;
Fundraising events held and funds raised; ;
Traveling classrooms visiting Rwanda to study the memory of genocide.
WAYS TO SUSTAIN/INCREASE PROGRESS
Increase video making and distribution to support the mission of EAMP RWANDA;
Increase fundraising events held and funds raised;
Increase interest about genocide awareness and prevention; and
Increase the number of supporting organizations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Gilbert Ndahayo is a 26-years old survivor of the 1994 Rwanda genocide and a filmmaker. His debut film entitled “Behind this convent” is an extraordinary journey into the heart-rending story of Rwanda’s genocide. His short film “Scars of my days” was featured at New York’s 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and has earned him recognition in East Africa. He was awarded “First time filmmaker” by Amakula Film Festival and has been called a promising filmmaker in the region.
Jacqueline Murekatete is an internationally renowned speaker on matters of genocide. She has traveled for six years in U.S and abroad education the world about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. She has been featured on CNN, PBS,ABC, The New York Times, as well as other major media agents. For her work she has received several prestigious humanitarian awards including the Peace and Tolerance Award from the United Nations.
EAMP RWANDA
P.O Box 6086 Kigali,
RWANDA
Email: eamprwanda@gmail.com
Phone: RWA (+250) 08490501
US +1 347 873 5637
Aug 25th, 2006 - 05:09:55 |
Gilbert NDAHAYO
In the days that are looked on with nostalgia, women in African societies shone with necklaces and ornament made of gemstone placed in a setting of silver. Their husbands would light up, dance and go for hunting enchanted by the beauty of their wives. Scars are always visible where one wore silvers.
Nadine, a beautiful daughter of Rwanda, decides to drop off her guards and visit Rutayisire, a regular client of the pub she owns at great cost of her new identity as a genocide survivor. Did she decide to do the right thing?
This 12 min film is based on Rwanda's greatest depression of current times.
HDV. 12 min. Uganda/Rwanda
SCARS OF SILVER
Written and Directed by
Gilbert NDAHAYO
Copyright. 2006 All rights reserved.
Oct 14th, 2005 - 05:51:34 |
Gilbert NDAHAYO
Our first film is out. It entitled "The Path Of The Pain", a video documentary on the lives of Genocide Survivors in Rwanda, eleven years after genocide. They have stories to tell especially on the current trends of ....
One of the most important witnesses of the Rwandan genocide lives in a sandwiched-hill called Bisesero, a hill among a thousands hills of Rwanda that saw the killings of hundred thousands of tutsi. The dead family members of tutsi from Bisesero dwelt there, in a genocide memorial, but the history of Rwanda concerns more than just survivors since tragedy has become something the entire world experiences today.
Bisesero genocide memorial site is
more than a cemetery,
more than a path of pain,
not just for survivors,
not just important for survivors.
As one of the survivors addressed to the youth who visited the site:
“Our wishes today as we are called upon to live in harmony with those who killed ours, if they tell us the truth, the truth will release them by asking for forgiveness instead of living with a killer who tells lies all the times as if you do not remember his deeds. I tell you the truth if one asks for forgiveness, it is given. If one asks for forgiveness saying ‘I did harm to you, it is no me, it is because of a bad government [leaders], I am begging for pardon, I did harm to you.’ We can forget to go through that shit anymore as we will be happy. But seeing a killer who refuses to tell the truth while you get to know about his actions, even some of his/her genocidal colleagues [killers] pointing a finger to him by telling you that he is the one who uprooted [killed] yours while during 'gatchatcha' court, he/she denies it and keep silence.”
But the local affected people had another side of the story: why people who lost theirs would forgive and forget through the so-called gatchacha? This question should be tackled with big solutions.
The film ends with the visitors given an opportunity to express their views and feeling about the Bisesero people. One of the youth participants comments:
“After visiting this site, really it has been so stressful and frightening. It has also been so sorrowful. And they tried to fight on their lives even if very few are saved by their heroic acts but we think everybody and every Rwandan should emulate on this action of Bisesero people. After having interviewed them, after having discussed with them, they have told us that at least about seventy or sixty thousands people perished in this site. We are brought here, we bid but all of us are the youth, you see. We should emulate on this action of Bisesero people.”
This material is very rich and can play an important role in informing our societies. As the film is in Kinyarwanda, Ndahayo’s wishes is to have his work dubbed in English and French and screened to a big audience.
There are quite a number of people who need to be documented on the lives of such people [Bisesero] with a long history, particularly the new young generations whom we want them to be the carriers of the “Never Again” message.
Gilbert Ndahayo only zoomed on the survivors' testimonies, that which are today reduced in the meagre words in the media, and the camera did not leave the genocide site path which is named 'Inzira y'umuhora w'akababaro' and anyone who will watch the movie will feel like being there too (without flying or boating) and the stories describe the resistance of Bisesero people that will remind everyone the tragedy of genocide and how life lookes like today which in one way or made the public to raise fundamental questions about a peaceful future.
That the fact that one does not need (or will be thirstened) to travel to Kibuye to see the reality of the Rwanda's genocides makes the movie very impressive.
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