Rwanda - One Man's Perspective

 

Rwanda: Recovering from a devastating war and genocide has made tremendous progress since July of 1994. The country for the most part is secure and peaceful except in the northwesta look at the Rwanda countryside outside of Kigali.where soldiers from the former government are attempting an overthrow of the present government. 

Kigali, the capital is growing by leaps and bounds and one can not believe that this is the same town that experienced such devastation just 14 years back in 1994. Stores have opened and are filled with merchandise, the streets are filled with cars, and the place is bustling with activity.

Rwanda is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It has a very pleasant climate and is filled with mountains and lakes. As you drive through the countryside you see some of the most beautifulTerraced Farming in the hills of Rwanda sights ever seen. In the mountains the temperature drops quite low and you can see the farmers with their hoes heading into the hills to till their plots on terraced mountainsides.

After 7 pm, the town literally folds up and turns quiet except for some Police Patrols here and there. Very unlike Uganda or Kenya. Here the streets are clean, exceptionally so, the traffic is orderly, motorcyclists wear helmets, no potholes to speak of, the street lights work and the police officers are honest.

Most people were affected by the genocide that took upward to a million people and the pain and agony that people, especially children endured is a tribute to the African way to handle grief inside of the family structure. Since death is an everyday part of life, the strong support structure built into the African relational systems aids them to face such things as disease, death and other tragedies.

The war and genocide that touched the heart and mind of every person in Rwanda does not just float away on soft clouds into the sunset.  It will take a paradigm shift in the hearts and mind of every Rwandese to move away from tribal thinking toward being a human being living in Rwanda.  This can only take place as President Paul Kagame leads his nation toward healing and recovery and away from patterns that have visited the country time and time again.  Hopefully what I heard an official say to me in 1994 will become true, "never again."...

Tourism has been on the increase in recent years, coffee focusing on specialty coffees are making great headways, stores are popping up including a mall in Kigali, the place is going through what Germany went through after World War 2, a literal African Wirtschafts Wunder.

Higher Education is one the increase, the place is becoming wired for internet and there is a sense of prosperity without the corruption found so often in nearby African Countries.

There is still that negative relationship between Rwanda and France, France very much on the side of those who instigated the genocide.

On the 10th anniversary of the genocide a few low-level officials came from other countries in the West but no heads of state.  Former President Clinton came and mumbled something "If I only had known."  That is a bunch of garbage, he and other western leaders knew, but Rwanda was of no strategic significance, 300 UN soldiers under General Romeo Dallaire were there without a mandate, blocked by Africans at the UN such as Koffi Anan and of course the Security Council... jon

Let us behave gently, that we may die peacefully:  That our children may stretch out their hands upon us in burial

Yoruba Proverb - Nigeria

Other Pages on Rwanda:

Rwanda Picture GalleryRwanda Picture Gallery:   Rwanda in pictures mostly taken during 1994 shortly after the genocide there.  Rwanda suffered a lot.  The amazing thing is that in the past 15 years the rebuilding process has been staggering and today Rwanda has one of the best road systems in East Africa, clean streets, policemen that do not take bribes and a country that is becoming a model for growth in Africa.

Rwanda 10 years after the GenocideRwanda - 10 years Later:   Rwanda, brings up all kinds of images, but the Rwanda since the genocide may surprise you.  The present government has done an excellent job of attempting to bring the county together after a most terrible time in 1994.  There are many positive signs ten years later in Rwanda that show promise.

Rwanda Liberation Day July 4 2009Rwanda - July 4  2009 Liberation Day Rwanda's Rise from Ashes:  While the world was silent as 8 to 10,000 people were slaughtered daily for 100 days.  Kigali was liberated on July 4, 1994, a look at both then and now and some of the key players of that time.

Thoughts on being HumanThoughts on being Human Rwanda September 1994:  Some thoughts on background such as being Tutsi or Hutu.  Labeling people based on ethnicity rather than accepting people for who they are.

I am glad you made it through the nightI am glad you made it through the night:  A greeting common in Rwanda in those days of the genocide of 94 and beyond.

 

Life in East AfricaWhat Life is like in East Africa

Informative pages on Life in East Africa-Get in touch with Life in East Africa.  From facts about Countries in East Africa to celebrating life in Africa

Africa-My PerspectiveAfrica-My Perspective:  Africa gets inside of your soul, you either love it or hate it.  Some westerners get skeptical, others learn to do a paradigm shift and go with the African flow.  Here are some of insights into Africa that have been shaped by years of living in Africa.

Uganda BackgroundUganda Country Information:  Some historic background and facts about Uganda.  Uganda's past and present are covered here and some country facts at a glance and insights into life in Uganda, East Africa.  You will also find some population figures here.

Uganda One Man's perspectiveUganda-One Man's Perspective:  The insight of a Westerner of Uganda, its everyday life, the people of Uganda and their joys and struggles.  This is my insights into life in Uganda and the things I have seen while here in Uganda.

Kenya One Man's PerspectiveKenya - One Man's Perspective:  Observations on Kenya from the perspective of a westerner.  Kenya was one of the countries of hope in Africa but the ethnic strive, the desire to rule, instead of serving the people of Kenya won out at the end of the day when after the election of 2007 the country exploded  in violence. Today there is a makeshift peace and a coalition government walking on thin ice.

Kenya Country InformationKenya - Country Information:  Facts about Kenya up to the present time.  Kenya is one of the few countries where things are manufactured on a large scale basis and shipped all over Africa.  It has a middle class but, poverty is still the rule of the day.

Kenya's Swahili CoastKenya's Swahili Coast:  Past and Present, A historical look at the Kenya coast called the Swahili coat with its rich history and background that just might surprise you. Find out what other people groups visited the coast from Kenya the Portuguese being late comers. 

South Sudan One Man's PerspectiveSouth Sudan - One Man's Perspective:  Observations on South Sudan a place that is enjoying some freedoms and peace, even if it may precarious and the upcoming election will determine a lot of things in regards to the freedom and liberties that South Sudan is not enjoying.

LRA-Child Soldiers-Background InformationThe LRA-Joseph Kony-Child Soldiers and Northern Uganda:  Pages on the LRA, the Child Soldiers, the war in Northern Uganda, Alice Lakwena and her influence on the LRA, Joseph Kony Biography, the story of Catherine Ajok who was held captive for 13 years by Kony, the amnesty program, the rebuilding of Northern Uganda since peace has returned.  For 20 some years Joseph Kony has greatly affected the quality of life in Northern Uganda, thank goodness for Uganda peace has returned.

Aids the African PlagueAids-The African Plague:  AIDS in the 1990's was like the black plague of Europe.  People were dying everywhere of the slimming disease.  Most every family had members die, businesses restricted as to how many funerals an employee could attend.  Thousands of children were orphaned.  It was simply unbelievable.

Aids - The African SolutionAids-The African Solution:  What Uganda has done to combat Aids?  Actually a lot with simple tools for the most par.  A-B-C meaning Abstention - Be Faithful and Condoms.  The fight against Aids is not over in Uganda, there has been a slight resurgence in new cases.

African Picture Galleries: Literally thousands of pictures from Africa including the children and women of Africa, life in Africa, Africa's scenery and wildlife, visits to a village in Africa, Rwanda Pictures, South Sudan pictures, Kenya Pictures, Uganda pictures.

Africa's ChildrenAfrica's Children: The joys, the sorrows, get in touch with the children of Africa.  Meet the children of Africa in stories, in pictures, in accounts of what life is like for an African Child.  Pages and pages of the accounts of children in Africa along with pictures. Meet children through the stories and pictures and you will be touched in heart.  Find out what life is like for Africa's Children

Women of AfricaAfrica's Women:  The women of Africa. There are pictures of everyday women. Stories of Human triumph and of simply daily life for a woman in Africa.  There is a resiliency and strength in the African woman birthed out of the daily trials she faces.  Focusing primarily on the women of Uganda but can be applied to other countries in Africa.

Life in a Kampala Neighborhood

Life in a Kampala Neighborhood:  An average neighborhood in Kampala.  The account is through the eyes of a westerner who lived there for some months.  It is unlikely that you will visit many places such as this, but it gives you an idea how many people live.  The very people who wait on your, clean your hotel room, drive you around, the people who make Kampala happen.

A day in a Ugandan VillageA day in a Ugandan Village:  A visit to the small village of Kitaisa an hour from Kampala.  You can see the pictures and read an account of the village.  Most Ugandans live in the village, there are no jobs besides working in a small shop, but most people grow their own vegetables and the surplus is sold.

Harambee - Pulling together African Style:  In East Africa, there is a Swahili word which is Harambee which translated means "pulling together".  Meaning a coming together of people in solving a problem as a community, a clan, a family.

It takes a villageIt takes a Village:  In African villages people need to work together, for alone they cannot make it.  You need water, you come together with us and build a well.  You need a school, you build it together and when it comes to a village, yes, in Africa it takes a village to raise a child.

Keeping Time in AfricaKeeping Time in Africa: When will we get there?  Soon.  How much longer, not long.  What are you doing?  I am waiting.  When will it come?  I do not know, but I am waiting.  Time is different than in the west, it more relational rather than task orientated.

BargainingBargaining in Uganda:  The bargaining ritual, if you are not with a tour group you have to bargain for a lot of things from transportation to souvenirs.  Enjoy the ancient ritual and bring a sense of humor, it is actually a lot of fun.

Every Ugandan has a CellphoneEvery Ugandan has a Cell phone - But...  The use of the mobile phone is changing African Society...there are now five mobile phone providers in Uganda.  In the capital of Kampala everyone seems to have a phone, but no airtime.  This is a humorous look at the use of cell phones in Uganda.

2nd hand clothing in UgandaDead White Man’s Clothing Get a Second Life in Africa: In East African countries such as Uganda the second hand clothing market is simply huge.  Most people cannot afford new clothing prices since they do not make a lot of money, so it is used clothing from Owino market, or from door to door vendor.  Come to Kampala and you can see smartly dressed people, and yes, mostly from second hand clothing that gets a second chance in Africa. Find out as to how most people in East Africa find their clothing.

The WabenzisThe Wabenzis:  You find them all over East Africa, the fanciest Mercedes Benz, flashy clothes, fantastic watch, a cell phone to die for.  They are newly rich of East Africa.  Often their gains are at expenses of others and they forget their roots rather quickly.

Living with death and celebrating LifeLiving with death and celebrating life in Africa:  Life in Africa is rather short compared to the west.  There is this celebration of the moment that takes nothing for granted but one celebrates the now in East Africa.

The African Entrepreneurial Spirit is alive and well.The African Entrepreneurial Spirit is alive and well:   In Kenya, Uganda, there are entrepreneurs starting up.  Here is a unique one in Kenya.  A story to make you smile at the innovation of the people involved.

Food - African - Western ThoughtsFood - African and Western Thoughts:  Thoughts on food looking both at the African ways and Western ways.  Most East Africans are thin until they gain wealth and can afford rich foods, while rich Westerners do everything to be thin.

African Insights NewslettersAfrican Insights Blog - Monthly Newsletter:  Receive Monthly Newsletter from African Insights covering various topics concerning Africa with the focus on East and Central Africa.  Free newsletter from a westerners perspective regarding life and issues that affect Africa and that you will find interesting.

Uganda SafarisUganda Safaris:  Uganda is one of the best places in Africa to go on Safaris.  A small country and yet bio-diverse in nature, almost twice the species of birds found in the USA yet Uganda is the size of Oregon. Game parks, lodging from budget to luxury, jungle, open savannas, mountains, volcanoes...simply awesome and off the beaten tourist track. One day, three day and 5 day or longer safaris with Kabiza Wilderness Safaris.

 

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Last updated: 27 June 2010

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