Mwemerabugabo, Léonidas

Mwemerabugabo, Léonidas

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Interviewee Age

63

Interviewee Gender

Male

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

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

Current Geographical Location

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

Interview Date

2-26-2022

Interviewer Name

Philippe Mukamarakiza

Summary of Oral History

At the age of 15, Léonidas witnessed his father being taken away by authorities. The father, who was a catechist teacher, was arrested and never seen again. Léonidas’s family was informed about his fate through a radio broadcast that reported all the demonstrators and those arrested had been defeated by the authorities of Burundi in 1972.

After his father's disappearance, life was filled with hardship for the widow and nine children left behind. The children faced persecution and bullying at school from classmates who were from a different ethnic group (Tutsi) and acted on the influence of their parents' beliefs. The interviewee and his siblings eventually had to drop out of school due to the abuse and discrimination they faced, being labeled as children of traitors.

Despite these difficulties, their mother never remarried and took on the responsibility of caring for the family alone. Before their father's arrest, the family had a comfortable life with livestock and a well-maintained household. Although, after becoming widowed, their mother struggled to support nine children without the father's income or support.

Named Persons

Aruberuto Rubamba (father), Tereza Zihinjishi (mother), Gihimbare Jean (grandfather)

Named Places

Rutabo Village, the commune is Busoni, the province Kirundo, Mazina

Length of Oral History

00:08:25

Language(s) of Oral History

Kirundi

Language(s) of Transcripts

Kirundi, English

Translator for Transcripts

Pasteur Niyomwungere and transcriptionist Sylvane Ndihokubwayo

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 Léonidas Mwemerabugabo – Oral History Transcript and Translation (Kirundi and English) (160 KB)

Mwemerabugabo, Léonidas

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