About Genocide Archive Rwanda
The Genocide Archive of Rwanda is a collaborative project of the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Aegis Trust, and Rwanda’s National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide to document the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda represents one of the fastest and most atrocious cases of genocide in modern history. From early April until July of 1994, members of the Hutu ethnic group systematically slaughtered approximately 1,000,000 Tutsi, politically moderate or sympathizing Hutus, and Twa people, with whom they had previously co-existed and shared cultural practices. The history of the Genocide dates back to the 1960s, when the postcolonial government instituted anti-Tutsi discriminatory practices, resulting in a deep seated hatred of and periodic violence towards Tutsis. This violence peaked in 1994 when the Hutu leadership, fearing a loss of power in the face of a pro-democracy movement, organized and instigated the Genocide through a calculated dissemination of extremist rhetoric and threats of violence through state-controlled and independent media. The Genocide ended when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) captured Kigali in July 1994 and defeated the Rwandan army.
The interactive online digital archive contains materials that document the development, lived experiences, and aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The site features video testimonies from Genocide survivors and rescuers, perpetrator testimonies from the gacaca court proceedings, footage from annual remembrance ceremonies, archival photographs, colonial documents, identification records, maps, foreign serials and propaganda publications. All testimonies are given in Kinyarwanda; some videos have English subtitles as well as English and French transcripts.
In addition to the online site, a local version of the Genocide Archive Rwanda is accessible at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali, Rwanda. This is the only project of its kind in Rwanda and allows previously inaccessible material to be consulted for personal, educational, and research purposes. The physical materials that make up the archives have been contributed by various partner organizations and repositories, listed below.
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre was opened in April 2004, on the 10th Anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The Centre is built on a site where over 250,000 people are buried. These graves are a clear reminder of the cost of ignorance. The Centre is a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide and serves as a place for people to grieve those they lost.
The Centre includes three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. There is also a children's memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. The Education Centre, Memorial Gardens, and National Documentation Centre of the Genocide all contribute to a meaningful tribute to those who perished, and provide a powerful educational tool for the next generation.
For more information, click here.
Archives and Library Repositories
The Genocide Archive Rwanda graciously acknowledges the libraries, archival repositories, individuals, and organizations that have allowed their materials to be digitized for this project:
For more information about donor repositories and the materials donated by each repository, click here.
Partners and Sponsors
The Genocide Archive Rwanda is indebted to the support of its partners and sponsors:
Contact Information
Please contact info@genocidearchiverwanda.org.rw with any questions, concerns, or comments.
See the Help and Frequently Asked Questions page for assistance with using the Genocide Archive Rwanda site.
