A History of Rwandan Identity and Trauma: The Mythmakers' Victims

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Few societies have faced the difficulties of identity building experienced by Rwanda. This books introduction reviews literature on the concepts of myth and trauma, and then introduces basic information on Rwanda and how it has been viewed by the outside world. Chapter One describes early Rwandas political and cultural development, traditional narratives, group migrations, the effects of German and later Belgian colonialism, and the introduction of Christianity. It concludes with a look at how this early history has been interpreted and reinterpreted. The second chapter discusses the end of Tutsi dominance and the 1959 Hutu Revolution. It details Hutu Power ideology, Belgian domestic politics, early acts of genocide, refugee movements, and economic and political stagnation. The text documents the development of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, its 1990 invasion, and the Arusha peace process. An account of the 1994 genocide follows. However, as this has been covered in numerous other works, descriptions are limited to key events and general patterns. The chapter ends with a review of films, books, and other publications that brought Rwandas plight to a worldwide audience, but that also created new myths. Chapter Three examines the countrys post-genocide reconstruction and attempts to bring justice and reconciliation through the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Tanzania and gacaca courts domestically. Rwandas impressive record of economic progress over the last two decades is detailed. However, prospects for democracy have diminished, as its leaders have become increasingly sensitive to criticism and fearful of renewed divisions. Descriptions of the process of developing school curriculums to explain past atrocities, the new myths it created, and their possible consequences comprise most of Chapter Four. The final chapter offers conclusions on the effects of past mythologies and the trauma they have wrought. It draws comparisons with other divided societies and their approaches to dealing with the past. These include Burundi, Ethiopia, South Africa, the United States, Taiwan, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and Singapore. An extensive bibliography of books, theses, conference papers, official documents, articles, periodicals, journals, films, websites, other media, and interviews includes translations of titles in Kinyarwanda, French, Dutch, and German.

Reviews

InA History of Rwandan Identity and Trauma Randall Fegley has produced a significant contribution to the literature on the Rwandan genocide. Through focusing on mythologies of violence, Fegley shows that Rwandas future may indeed depend partly on demystifying narratives about the past. Fegleys treatment of the dilemmas involved in teaching history in Rwanda is particularly thoughtful. -- Kjell Anderson, Netherlands Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies (NIOD)

Author Bio

Randall Fegley is political historian at Pennsylvania State Universitys Berks College.