Rwanda consists of various cultural sites which many of the country’s tourists want to visit. The following are some of the country’s cultural sites;
1 Genocide memorial sites;
In 1994, a very large number of Rwandese lost their lives in the nasty genocide. Almost a million of Rwandans are believed to have been assassinated during the nasty 1994 genocide thus the government and tourism board of Rwanda decided to establish various genocide sites all over the country.
The genocide sites are the exact places where the genocide culprits’ bodies were buried in the graves which are transparent to offer views for the tourists who visit the sites.
At those sites, visitors will be given details about the whole genocide and how it happened which will be accompanies by the videos and photos that clearly show on how everything occurred. The following are some of the famous genocide memorial sites;
Ntarama memorial site;
The site is situated in Bugesera and it is about 30km from Kigali and it is thus a one hour drive from Kigali. This was a church which had given shelter to over 5000 refuges and unfortunately during the genocide of 1994 they were all assassinated and their remains are still kept here in transparent graves offering clear views to the visitors at the church.
Though in recent years before the genocide it was a church, but currently it is now a memorial site and it does not welcome those who want to pray to God instead it welcomes tourists from various countries all over the world who will want to view the remains of these innocent souls which deceased during the nasty 1994 genocide which left many families divided.
Gisozi memorial site;
The site was famously known for residing the remains of the Tutsis who were murdered by the fellow country-mates though of a different tribe called the Hutu.
However, since these sites were purposely established to unite both tribes in the country such that the entire country becomes stable and united, later the remains of both tribes were buried in the same place.
The site in located so close to Kigali in Gasabo district and it consist of a library, photo gallery, display house and a cemetery which all provide an additional history about the country and over three hundred thousands of individuals are buried here.
Nyamata memorial site;
This was also a church which had given refuge to over two thousand people during the genocide of 1994 and unluckily they were all killed and their remains can be viewed if you visit this site. In order to access the site, you need to drive like 35km from Kigali to Bugesera district where it is found.
Murambi memorial site;
This was a school where over two thousand five hundred people were slaughtered from. Since the days of 1994 genocide, many people moved away from this place and it is now a memorial site where tourists in the country go and being guided by the survivors of the genocide showing them where their fellows were buried from and also telling you how they survived the genocide plus still telling you more of the country’s history.
At the site, there are also various preserved burial rooms where tourists will have clear views and still at the site you will visit a single mass grave which dug to give a descent burial to these innocent fallen souls.
Gisenyi memorial site;
The site is found in Gisenyi and it resides almost 12000 genocide culprits who were killed during that 1994 genocide in Rwanda. This was the first memorial site to be established and bodies kept at this site are believed that they are brought from the area of Corniche and Nyundo.
This site is so special and historical for it also resides a grave for an American (Madame Carr) who was managing the Imbabazi Orphanage in Rwanda.
Nyanza memorial site;
Before the 1994 genocide, there existed a school in Nyanza which was called ETO and this school was managed by the UN officials who lived in Rwanda to offer security to the natives.
However, by the outbreak of this genocide in 1994 the UN officials went back to their homeland and all the people who lived in that area were killed since there was no security and assistance anymore from UN.
Therefore due to the insecurity at the place, a large number of people lost their lives mostly the Tutsis plus some few Hutus and every 11th of April in each calendar year a memorial ceremony is put in place to remember the deceased people.
Nyarubuye memorial site;
Before the genocide, this site operated as a school and as a convent. Almost twenty thousand individuals were murdered and buried there plus those who were escaping to Tanzania.
The Tutsis are the most individuals killed and buried here though 15 years back (in 2003), the school was innovated and since then up to now it has a large number of students educating them.
Bisesero memorial site;
The site resides almost 30,000 genocide victims and it is found in Karongi district in the western parts of Rwanda. The site consists of nine small structures which symbolize the nine communities which initially formed the Kibuye region and currently the site is called the ‘’hill of resistance’’ because of the resistance displayed by the people living there against their enemies.
The major residents here were the Tutsis who during the genocide organized for the massacre against the Hutus but due to their inferior weapons, they were all killed by the Hutus though currently people living there are now united and stable who will even narrate to you the 1994 genocide plus its effects (both negatives and positives).
