de Dieu Rwasa, Jean

Interviewee

Jean de Dieu Rwasa

Interviewee Age

61

Interviewee Gender

Male

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

First grade

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

Burundi, Murore Village, Busoni zone, the commune was Murore, Kirundo arrondissement, the province was Muyinga

Current Geographical Location

Burundi, Murore Village, the commune is Busoni, the province Kirundo

Interview Date

3-4-2022

Interviewer Name

Philippe Mukamarakiza

Summary of Oral History

Jean's father was taken away by authorities when he was just 12 years old. While his father was on his way to do business, in regards to his job as a shop merchant, he was later captured and never seen again. His fathers disappearance resulted in Rwasa having to drop out of school in Kibonde. Like any child would, Rwasa religiously asked the people of his community about his fathers whereabouts, After a month of uncertainty, he was told that his father had disappeared like others who were taken away. It was later revealed to the interviewee that his father had been taken where the “traitors” are placed to be exiled. He and his family fled to Rwanda during a period of unrest. They returned later but did not settle back in Rusarasi due to fears of similar repercussions. Rwasa’s father was a businessman, but after his disappearance, his family did not obtain any belongings left behind from his store in Bunyari. The store had been looted after his capture. The interviewee's life took a different route after his father was captured. He lived among priests for a period, then engaged in selling goats and later pigs until he could afford to build a house.

Named Persons

Gihaga (father), Inaromba (mother), Baridadi (interviewees nickname), Kabaka (grandfather), Ngarukiyinka (brother), Misago (brother), Karorero (brother)

Named Places

Murore Village, the commune is Busoni, the province Kirundo, Kibone, Bunyari

Length of Oral History

00:09:32

Language(s) of Oral History

Kirundi

Language(s) of Transcripts

Kirundi, English

Translator for Transcripts

Pasteur Niyomwungere

Rights

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Recommended Citation

de Dieu Rwasa, Jean, "de Dieu Rwasa, Jean" (2022). 1972 Burundi Genocide – Oral Histories. 16.
https://neiudc.neiu.edu/burundi-oral-histories/16

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