Ngabo, Léonce

Ngabo, Léonce

Léonce Ngabo

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Interviewee Age

73

Interviewee Gender

Male

Interviewee Ethnicity

Tutsi

Interviewee Occupation

Filmmaker

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

Senior students in Don Bosco high school.

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

Burundi, Don Bosco, Ngozi province

Current Geographical Location

Burundi, Bujumbura municipality

Interview Date

12-18-2023

Interviewer Name

Center for Genocide and Human Rights Research in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Research Team

Summary of Oral History

In May of 1972, Léonce Ngabo said the school principal entered his classroom with a priest. He said the principal read the names of nine students, and one of those names was in fact, his name. Ngabo explained he and the children were removed from the classroom and as he tried to make jokes, he heard his classmates crying as police officers screamed at them. He was then taken to a prison cell where he was forced to surrender his personal belongings and was repeatedly beaten with a large stick. He said a priest questioned if he was Hutu or Tutsi. He convinced the priest he was Tutsi and his life was spared. His eight classmates, however, did not survive the interrogation. After escaping death, Ngabo said that the priest would make children wear a blue cross or red cross to differentiate if they were Hutu or Tutsi. Decades after being beaten, losing loved ones to genocide, and witnessing his family home burn to the ground, he hopes for a better future for Burundi. Ngabo wants everyone to remember that they are all first and foremost Burundians, and the young people in Burundi need to develop this beautiful country.

Named Persons

Salesian a congregation of white priests owned Don Bosco high school, André one of his classmates killed in the 1972 tragedy

Named Places

Burundi, Gasekebuye Muha Bujumbura, Don Bosco, Ngozi province

Length of Oral History

00:11:32

Language(s) of Oral History

English

Language(s) of Transcripts

English

Translator for Transcripts

Transcriber: Pasteur Niyomwungere

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Download Leonce Ngabo - Oral History Transcript (English) (279 KB)

Ngabo, Léonce

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