Nyabenda, Yozefina

Interviewee

Yozefina Nyabenda

Interviewee Gender

Female

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Interviewee Occupation

Farmer

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

Reading and writing training at Rumeza

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

Taba Village, the commune is Songa, the province Bururi

Current Geographical Location

Taba Village, the commune is Songa, the province Bururi

Interview Date

3-9-2022

Interviewer Name

 Florence Nitunga

Summary of Oral History

This interview unfolds a personal experience of the tragic times in Burundi in 1972, during a period of intense ethnic violence. Yozefina describes seeing the abduction and likely execution of many people in her community. She recounts how innocent people were forcibly taken away, often at night, and never returned home. Yozefina and others were told to hide in forests to avoid being captured, and she describes a true sense of fear and helplessness in 1972.

The interviewee describes the violence as seeming to be selective, targeting those who were considered to have wealth or status in the community. Yozefina’s husband was among those captured, and despite her attempts to seek more information, the whereabouts and fate of those taken were left unknown. The brutality expanded to looting and burning of homes, and those who had belongings or were perceived as wealthy were the main target.

She also emphasizes the atmosphere of terror and the inability to seek help or answers due to the fear of further violence. Yozefina describes the trauma of losing loved ones without any clear knowledge of their fate.

Named Persons

Nsambaniruka (father), Mariya Nikobasa (mother), Roza (older sister), Pascasie Mukore (sibling) , Singirankabo (sister), Rosette Macumi (sister), Nkubitsi (grandfather), Hajayandi Jeremiah (husband)

Named Places

Rumeza, Taba Village, the commune is Songa, the province Bururi

Length of Oral History

00:39:36

Language(s) of Oral History

Kirundi

Language(s) of Transcripts

Kirundi, English

Translator for Transcripts

Pasteur Niyomwungere

Field Folder Number

76

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).

Recommended Citation

Nyabenda, Yozefina, "Nyabenda, Yozefina" (2022). 1972 Burundi Genocide – Oral Histories. 70.
https://neiudc.neiu.edu/burundi-oral-histories/70

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