Genocide Archive of Rwanda, testimony, digital technologies, online platform
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was amongst the worst atrocities of the twentieth century and had a profound impact on Rwandan people. Over a thirteen-week period, the death toll reached approximately 1 million people, leaving the country devastated and the population traumatised. Anti-genocide charity, the Aegis Trust was invited by the Government of Rwanda and Kigali City Council to help establish the Kigali Genocide Memorial (KGM) and the Genocide Archive of Rwanda in 2004. A digital version of this archive was made available in December 2010 providing online access to audio-visual testimonies of genocide survivors, perpetrator confessions, rescuers’ and elders’ stories, footage of commemoration ceremonies, photographs and many other documents related to the genocide. This chapter will discuss some of the achievements of the Genocide Archive of Rwanda, including its creation of new approaches to peace education that draw on digital technologies thanks to help from international funders and partners. The chapter will also discuss some of the archive’s challenges including, most notably, its overreliance on external funding, which sometimes constrains its activities and results in compromises. The Genocide Archive of Rwanda is nonetheless undertaking pioneering work and, despite the challenges, offers a unique example of Rwandan ownership over history.
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