Bwasoni, Rejina

Bwasoni, Rejina

Rejina Bwasoni

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Interviewee Age

Born in 1959

Interviewee Gender

Female

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

5th grade

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

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

Current Geographical Location

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

Interview Date

2-26-2022

Interviewer Name

Philippe Mukamarakiza

Summary of Oral History

In the interview, Rejina recounts seeing soldiers arriving in a Jeep at her school. The soldiers took away several teachers and other individuals, including her uncle, Mark Buhinja, who was an agronomist. The interviewee saw the abductions occur and mentioned that the teachers and her uncle were placed into vehicles. After the abductions, Rejina went home and found her family in complete distress. These abductions had deeply affected the community, with her uncle's wife and her mother expressing extreme grief, as anyone who loses a family member tragically would. Unfortunately, the speaker later learned that those taken, including her uncle, were killed. There were also rumors that spread and confirmed reports about the killings, including those who were tied up and transported.

This resulted in Rejina and her family facing severe emotional distress. She was forced to drop out of school due to the upheaval and the loss of her father, who was also killed. The interviewee's father had been a soldier and was involved in burying bodies before his death.

She also recounts how the local community and the school treated her and her siblings, by insulting them and facing discrimination. The family's suffering was compounded by the broader political violence and social upheaval of the time.

Named Persons

Mark Buhinja (uncle/guardian), Bampozenzi (chief), Bimpenda (warned the Husband of Rejina’s Aunt to escape in transit place), Bigazwe (chief counselor who attempted to marry by force the widow)

Named Places

Ruyaga Village, the commune is Busoni, the province Kirundo , Ruyaga Village, Busoni zone, the commune was Murore, Kirundo arrondissement, the province was Muyinga, Ngozi camp, Vumbi, Gitobe, Gasura,

Length of Oral History

00:32:37

Language(s) of Oral History

Kirundi

Language(s) of Transcripts

Kirundi, English

Translator for Transcripts

Pasteur Niyomwungere Transcriptionist: Sylvane Ndihokubwayo

Rights

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Download Rejina Bwasoni – Oral History Transcript and Translation (Kirundi and English) (265 KB)

Bwasoni, Rejina

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