Nimubona, Phocus
Interviewee Age
73
Interviewee Gender
Male
Interviewee Ethnicity
Hutu
Geographical Location(s) during the genocide
Rumonge
Interview Date
2025
Summary of Oral History
Phocus Nimubona said he was able to survive the 1972 Genocide of Burundi by dressing up as a female child to escape being executed alongside the other male members of the community. Nimubona said he fled to Tanzania and lived there from 1972 to 1985. Nimubona said because he and his family fled during the violent attacks, their neighbor took his family’s property. However, Nimubona explained that even though his neighbor was Tutsi and he and his family were Hutu it made no difference. He said because he and his family lived in harmony with the Tutsi’s before the 1972 Genocide, they received part of their land back upon their return. While Nimubona expressed relief that he and other family members and friends were able to survive the 1972 attacks, he did go on to lose many loved ones during the next violent eruption of 1993.
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Recommended Citation
Nimubona, Phocus, "Nimubona, Phocus" (2025). 1972 Burundi Genocide – Oral Histories. 50.
https://neiudc.neiu.edu/burundi-oral-histories/50
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