https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250407/from-cockroaches-to-countrymen-how-rwanda-redefined-identity-after-genocide-1072703842.html
From Cockroaches to Countrymen: How Rwanda Redefined Identity After Genocide
From Cockroaches to Countrymen: How Rwanda Redefined Identity After Genocide
Sputnik Africa
In commemoration of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, AfroVerdict host joins a political researcher and pracademic to expose how Belgian ethnic identity cards laid... 07.04.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-04-07T10:49+0200
2025-04-07T10:49+0200
2025-05-06T17:49+0200
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From Cockroaches to Countrymen: How Rwanda Redefined Identity After Genocide
Sputnik Africa
In commemoration of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, AfroVerdict host joins a political researcher and pracademic to expose how Belgian ethnic identity cards laid the groundwork for the genocide, while analyzing Rwanda's innovative reconciliation approaches.
Belgium's 1930s ethnic identity cards transformed fluid Rwandan social classes into rigid categories, according to Cynthia Chigwenya, political researcher and pracademic based in South Africa.While the colonial administration viewed the Hutus as generic farmers, "the Tutsis were considered more educated, more astute". This culminated in one group reduced to the status of "cockroaches".The researcher notes these colonial tactics extended beyond Rwanda. This deliberate fragmentation "impacted integration and social cohesion" across Africa.Post-1994 Rwanda abolished ethnic labels through its "Ndi Umunyarwanda" (I am Rwandan) policy. Chigwenya clarifies that "it's not that Rwandans don't know their origins", the aim of "the erasure was to say, let us all move towards the same direction".The country implemented innovative justice systems:Chigwenya reveals troubling continuities in French policy, explaining that "assistance offered doesn't match the urgency required...early warnings about Rwanda were ignored." Operation Turquoise, ostensibly humanitarian, saw French soldiers "trading sexual favors for food...raping and killing Rwandans."To find out how to treat the psychological trauma of both the victims and perpetrators, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Afripods.► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict.
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rwanda, belgium, genocide, podcasts, history, colonialism, neocolonialism, аудио
rwanda, belgium, genocide, podcasts, history, colonialism, neocolonialism, аудио
From Cockroaches to Countrymen: How Rwanda Redefined Identity After Genocide
10:49 07.04.2025 (Updated: 17:49 06.05.2025) Viktor Anokhin
Producer, Podcast host
In commemoration of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, AfroVerdict host joins a political researcher and pracademic to expose how Belgian ethnic identity cards laid the groundwork for the genocide, while analyzing Rwanda's innovative reconciliation approaches.
Belgium's 1930s ethnic identity cards transformed fluid Rwandan social classes into rigid categories, according to Cynthia Chigwenya, political researcher and pracademic based in South Africa.
While the colonial administration viewed the Hutus as generic farmers, "the Tutsis were considered more educated, more astute". This culminated in one group reduced to the status of "cockroaches".
"The Tutsi were called 'inyenzi' (cockroaches)...used as a basis for discrimination and dehumanization," Chigwenya says.
The researcher notes these colonial tactics extended beyond Rwanda.
"In Eastern DRC you find Tutsis...in Cameroon-Nigeria border communities, ethnic groups are split by borders," she stets.
This deliberate fragmentation "impacted integration and social cohesion" across Africa.
Post-1994 Rwanda abolished ethnic labels through its "Ndi Umunyarwanda" (I am Rwandan) policy. Chigwenya clarifies that "it's not that Rwandans don't know their origins", the aim of "the erasure was to say, let us all move towards the same direction".
The country implemented innovative justice systems:
Gacaca courts tried 12,000+ cases locally (2002-2012);
Abunzi mediators continue resolving community conflicts;
Imidugudu reconciliation villages host victims/perpetrators.
"Conflict resolution isn't a destination, it's a process," emphasizes Chigwenya, noting these traditional mechanisms "allowed both victims and offenders to have rights."
Chigwenya reveals troubling continuities in French policy, explaining that "assistance offered doesn't match the urgency required...early warnings about Rwanda were ignored." Operation Turquoise, ostensibly humanitarian, saw French soldiers "trading sexual favors for food...raping and killing Rwandans."
"It takes dehumanization campaigns to make neighbors kill neighbors," she reflects. "Rebuilding requires understanding how political scapegoating weaponizes deprivation."
To find out how to treat the psychological trauma of both the victims and perpetrators, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.
► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict. 
