Melchior, Niyokwizera

Melchior, Niyokwizera

Niyokwizera Melchior

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Interviewee Age

Born in 1960

Interviewee Gender

Male

Interviewee Ethnicity

Hutu

Interviewee Occupation

Carpenter

Interviewee Level of Education in 1972

Fourth grade of elementary school

Geographical Location(s) during the genocide

Muzamba Village, the commune was Gitandu, the Province Bururi

Current Geographical Location

Muzamba Village, the commune is Songa, Bururi Province

Interview Date

3-10-2022

Interviewer Name

Florence Nitunga 

Summary of Oral History

When the tragedy began in Rumonge, Niyokwizera Melchior was at school. People who fled from Rumonge said that people were killing each other, Mulele rebels were killing people. So many people died there, especially those who went to attend the celebrations, some were killed there. So the killings extended for the Hutu people who fled from Rumonge to Songa, some Tutsis came to round them up saying that they were Mulele, they killed them. They again extended the killings to the Hutu teachers including the headmaster Nizigama Gervais. They targeted teachers, intellectuals, any Hutu who had money or who had valuable property. On Friday, they arrested his father and many other Hutu people. The perpetrators were two soldiers, they came together with local perpetrators namely Zona and Mukogoto. They took them to Songa commune (former Manyoni zone of the time). To arrest them, they told them to appear quickly to the authorities of Manyoni zone to answer different questions. Others were rounded up from the patrols. It was clear that they organized patrols so that they could easily arrest whom they wanted, said Niyokwizera Melchior. No mourning period for the deceased; it was like a dead dog.  The perpetrators had two main objectives: To kill and to plunder all victims belongings. The head of Manyoni zone looted many clothes from Hutus stores. He has been wearing them for many years. Melchor also lost his godfather Gabriel Bagwagure in a 1968 tragedy. He then dropped out of school because Tutsis students kept torturing Hutu classmates Orphans of 1972.

Named Persons

Ndegeya Philippe (His father), Ndayishimiye Generose(His Mother). His siblings are Balthazar Hakizimana and Toyi Laurent. His grandparents are Kirahagaze and Ntirubonerwa. Micombero the president of the time, Nizigama Gervais (the headmaster). Those who were arrested on friday together with his father are Bitama, Nderagakura, Kanyoni, Simon Ntampera, two Sons of Buyanzari, Ntibankunda and Ngayekamwe. The perpetrators include Mukogoto and Zona. They gathered people for Patrol near Gatabizi home. Ndikiminwe Adrien lost his father and was tortured when he went back to school. Gabriel Bagwagure (His godfather). Misorombwa and Katabizi are Tutsi who came to drink Honey alcohol at apiarist Kiranzira before 1972. They shared it with Hutus Buyanzari, Nyaboya and Baruhana. Barinzigo was the perpetrator and head of the Manyoni zone. Kayibanda the president of Rwanda, Mubimbi (craftsman)

Named Places

Muzamba the village, Bururi the province. Rumeza the village, Karambi the village. Makamba the province, Songa the village, Nyakungu the village, Rusama the village, Bukemba the village. Ngozi the province, Gatara the village, Manyoni the village, Matana the commune of Bururi province. Rwanda the country. Murembwe the village, Makamba the province of Burundi, Rugarama the village, Gitega the province of Burundi, Nyanza the commune of Makamba province, Mabanda, Vugizo the communes of Makamba. Rumonge the province, Mugara the village.

Length of Oral History

00:29:05

Language(s) of Oral History

Kirundi

Language(s) of Transcripts

Kirundi, English

Translator for Transcripts

Pasteur Niyomwungere

Field Folder Number

15

Rights

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Download Niyokwizera Melchior - Oral History Transcript and Translation (Kirundi and English).pdf (222 KB)

Melchior, Niyokwizera

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