Iryo Nabonye

The Rwandan genocide saw the extermination of nearly one million people in 100 days. In a country where tension still run high, art and culture help to break down barriers and support reconciliation. This theatre group produced a play enabling those who committed genocide to ask for forgiveness from their victims and their families upon release from prison.

Over the course of one month, the play Iryo Nabonye, toured 10 prisons across Rwanda. One 71-year-old women, who murdered her neighbours, said after the performance: "Please ask for forgiveness on our behalf. We have betrayed our brothers and sisters. All this happened before our very eyes. Today I am in jail and my children are orphaned. After another performance of the play, a man stood up and confessed to the crowd: I am in prison because of genocide. I am aware that it is useless to hide the truth. We should tell the truth because it delivers us from the cycle of evil that is ruining our heart."

Highlight:

The play was so successful it was turned into a short film for screening on Rwandan television.