Nibigira, Bernard

Nibigira, Bernard

Bernard Nibigira

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Interviewee Age

70

Interviewee Gender

Male

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

6th grade

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

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

Current Geographical Location

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

Interview Date

2-26-2022

Interviewer Name

Philippe Mukamarakiza

Summary of Oral History

Bernard Nibigira, also known as Ntibankange, was a nickname that was given to him at his administration sector job for protection. He attended school until the 6th grade and dropped out, due to the lack of school fees and the political state of the country.

Government workers, including teachers, were forcefully taken by soldiers in Toyota vehicles. Perpetrators initially targeted teachers and later expanded to other civilians. The interviewee's own family was affected, with several members, including teachers and a soldier, being taken away. Bernard’s brother, Tharcisse Mugabonutwiwe, was among those arrested and taken to a place called Mukenke. The family was not allowed to visit him, and eventually he never returned. Other family members, such as a teacher named André Baranyizigiye and a cousin named Badadi, were also killed. The interviewee's brother, who was a mason, was among those who did not survive as well.

Family members who survived were labeled as traitors and treated unfairly by others in the community. The interviewee was even publicly humiliated by local authorities, where they made him undress in a communal office due to assuming the soccer jersey he had on was some sort of government uniform.

He describes how those arrested were killed at night, either by stabbing or hitting with hammers. The bodies were buried in mass graves, with pits being dug by machinery in places like Karama and Vumbi.The perpetrators consisted of local authorities and soldiers who would round up people based on lists and transport them to communes where they were taken to be executed. The interviewee describes how the arrested individuals were transported and the bodies were disposed of.

Named Persons

Macumi Nazari (father), Inamisago Marisiyano (mother), Kirura Barthazar (grandfather), Tereza Ntamukiza (grandmother), Bikeranda(brother), Inabashengezi Marita (sister), Mugemancuro Aloys (brother), Kanyange Erariya (brother) , Nkurunziza Etienne (brother), Tegineza Juliette (brother), Dismas Nsabimana(brother), mje (youngest brother who passed)

Named Places

Gatemere Busoni Kirundo, Kimone Busoni, Gitega, Vumbi (mass grave site, interviewee describes it as volcano shaped swellings filled with soil), Karama

Length of Oral History

00:25:42

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 Bernard Nibigira – Oral History Transcript and Translation (Kirundi and English) (251 KB)

Nibigira, Bernard

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