Nijenahagera, Sylvestre

Nijenahagera, Sylvestre

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Interviewee Age

Born 1948, age 75

Interviewee Gender

Male

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Interviewee Occupation

former merchant and cultivate

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

Completed 5th grade

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

Muzima

Current Geographical Location

Muzima

Interview Date

12-12-2023

Interviewer Name

Dr. Jeanine Ntihirageza, Northeastern Illinois University - Center for Genocide and Human Rights Research in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD)

Summary of Oral History

Oral history of Sylvestre Nijenahagera. After only four months of marriage, Sylvestre Nijenahagera said the 1972 Genocide of Burundi erupted and killings began to creep into his country. He evacuated Burundi in hopes of finding safety in Tanzania. He was sent back to Burundi because he said his name was written on a list of those who should be killed. He said due to a clerical error, he was marked as dead and this mistake saved his life. Nijenahagera escaped a brutal death by hiding on the roof of a church. He said without the help of the church, and a clerical error, he would not be alive today to share his story of survival.

Named Persons

Domine Banyankimbona, Joseph Martin, Abasango Klan, Jean-Baptiste Bagaza

Named Places

Burundi, Lake Tankia, Muzima, Nyamugari, Rutova (school), Kagomogo (school)

Length of Oral History

00:09:16

Language(s) of Oral History

Kurundi, English

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).

Nijenahagera, Sylvestre

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