April blog: The significance of anniversaries
Friday 12 April 2024
30th Anniversary of the Rwandan genocide
This week sees the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide which took started in April 1994 and is estimated to have killed nearly one million Tutsi and thousands of moderate Hutu.
Despite advance warning and vows of “never again,” the outside world did nothing.
Anniversaries of key historical events provide an opportunity to discuss these events with students and reflect on their signficance. As Dan Snow writes, 'Anniversaries matter...We cannot hope to remember everything and everyone all the time, so by focusing on the day on which things happened, it is a way of accessing the enormity of the past.'
For those of your students studying the holocaust, the Rwandan genocide has particular resonance; however this anniversary provides an ideal opportunity to make sure all students get the chance to learn about and reflect on this terrible event.
The articles below range from those which are optimistic about the current state of Rwanda, to those which are more pessimistic about the nature of Paul Kagame's government. There are also many accounts from those returning to Rwanda after the massacre and also stories of reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsis.
Revisiting Rwanda 30 Years After the Genocide (TIME)
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide on April 7, 1994. A phoenix is rising from the ashes.
'My first time home 30 years after I fled a genocide' (BBC News)
The BBC's Victoria Uwonkunda speaks to survivors of the Rwanda genocide violence 30 years after she fled.
"He killed my sister. Now I see his remorse": the extraordinary stories of survivors of the Rwandan genocide who forgave their attackers (the Guardian)
Half a million died in 100 days: neighbours attacked neighbours, children saw their families slaughtered. But 30 years on, many of the victims and perpetrators have forged reconciliations and even become friends. How did it happen?
Lindsey Hilsum: Rwanda (the Guardian)
Ten years ago one million Rwandans perished in the worst genocide since the Second World War. Lindsey Hilsum, of The Observer, was the only British journalist in Kigali as the killing began. Here she reports on her return to witness the grim legacy of the terrible events of April 1994.
30th Anniversary in South Africa
On a much more positive note, this month is also the 30th anniversary of the first multi-racial elections in South Africa.
In a year of elections (globally, more voters than ever in history will head to the polls in 2024 in at least 64 countries - including South Africa!) it is perhaps apt to reflect on the significance of this election - the first in South Africa in which citizens of all races were allowed to take part.
The election was held between 26th and 29th April 1994 and 27th April is now known as Freedom Day highlighting its significance for signalling the end of Apartheid. Around 20 million South Africans queued over a four-day voting period, with a 86.9% voter turnout. The previously banned anti-apartheid party, the ANC won 63% of the vote and Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa.
However, voters going to the polls in South Africa this year, are dissatisified with the progress made by the ruling ANC party over the last 30 years due to poor public service delivery, corruption, and an economically crippling energy crisis. Thus this election could see support for the ANC go below 50% for the first time since 1994.
South Africa election 2024: When is the poll and what is at stake for the ANC? (BBC News)
The ANC has governed since the end of apartheid, but its vote could fall below 50% for the first time.
South Africans Mark 30 Years of Freedom Ahead of Pivotal Poll (Voice of America)
It's an important year for South Africa: Not only is the country marking the 30th anniversary of its democracy, 2024 is also an election year. Observers say the polls will be fiercely contested.
And finally..
We hope that your students are finding this site useful for their revision and we wish all students taking exams next month the best of luck!