Joseph Sebarenzi

In the final pages of God Sleeps in Rwanda, Joseph Sebarenzi quotes Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” And it is by this ethos that he participated in the Rwandan government, to break cycles of violence and discrimination that were responsible for genocide and ongoing national racial tensions.

He names European colonization as the ‘precursor’ to the Rwandan genocide, as it introduced new criteria of superiority and subsequent discrimination among the Rwandan people. However, once a cycle of violence is set in motion, it needs no outsider perpetuation nor does it remain at a simple dynamic of oppressor and oppressed, right and wrong peoples. This is driven home for Sebarenzi most clearly when he learns of Tutsi minority (the group against whom genocide was committed, and Sebarenzi's own ethnic group) violence against the Hutu (the majority ethnic group, and the perpetrators of the genocide):

"I would hear [Hutu] stories of grave human rights violations at the hands of Tutsi rebels. Previously, I would hear these stories and dismiss them. ‘Tutsi would never do something like that,’ was my thought. ‘Hutu are lying to get sympathy.’ Now I began to realize that they were not fiction; that Tutsi were also capable of cruelty; that the RPF I had put so much faith in had done terrible things." (85)

In spite of escalating violence and the corruption of the Rwandan government, Sebarenzi showed steadfast faith that by focusing on the country’s common good and transcending ethnic divides, he would also be able to transcend the cycle of violence. And it’s amazing that he even wanted to be involved such a government that has encouraged divisive and corrupt policies for its own power struggles. But by working within, by acting out light and love, Sebarenzi demonstrated a passion and hope for Rwanda beyond and better than its current bitter identity crisis.… (meer)

The author of this book, Joseph Sebarenzi, begins the first chapter telling us that he is not a storyteller. But this memoir is just that and with the aid of Laura Ann Mullane a story where the narrative flows. A story of terror and faith. Joseph Sebarenzi retells his life in Rwanda, a country that was in a constant power struggle that shifted back between two ethnic groups that had lived in peace in centuries before the country of Belgium created this divide. A divide that consisted of a separation of the two major ethnicity in the country, the Hutu and Tutsi, and placed one in power. The author expresses that this was done in order to ensure an orderly rule by a foreign nation. It is these same racial and economic divisions that many American politicians foster in the U.S.A.

In his telling of events of his story Sebarenzi brings to life the loss of innocence and the fear that was part of those living in Rwanda during those decades which comprised his entire lifetime. In Rwanda this fear was ever present even in times of deceptive peace. This racial tension would inevitable lead to racial violence that would be molded into mobs murdering their friends and neighbors as well as wholesale destruction of property. These atrocities were committed by the majority Hutu against the minority Tutsi who had once held leadership possessions before they gained independence from Belgium.

The mobs of Hutu would get a command every few years and go on killing sprees throughout the country killing Tutsi. And one of the reason we learn entire families were killed was because if there were no survivors, the murders would be able to keep what ever property they had stolen. If family members lived most property would be returned when the killing sprees ended. And in the beginning when these violent racial killings took place the Hutu would not go into Holy Places that became sanctuary's. This would change in the final Hutu attacks we know as the Rwanda genocide by the people of the world in the 1990's.

No government who had the power to stop this genocide would even call it by its true name for there is international law that would have had the United Nations (i.e. the U.S.A.) have to go in with military force and stop the violence. Instead all countries politicians with armies turned their back on the mass killings and the United Nations who were told exactly what would happen a month before it could would not let the Peace keepers confiscate the weapons caches they knew about. The United Nations only worked to protect and evacuate foreigners and then all but 500 Peace Keepers actually left the country to their genocide which would eventually turn into a civil war.

This memoir gives the general outline of what transpired and the visceral feel through the one who lost so much family. Sebarenzi returns to Rwanda after the civil war and things seem to be working out. He joins the government to help be part of solution of unifying the country he loves. His love of country, family and faith is strong and exhibited throughout the book. It is this faith in God that allows him the strength to forgive the Hutu and do what he feels is best for the country as a whole. Of course despite his best efforts and his faith Rwanda would go the way of many African countries as he gets caught in the middle of a power grab that left the Hutu living in fear.

There is no real happy ending, but how could their be with so much fear and mistrust. And the author was correct in his first assessment of his political abilities and naive in his belief that the rule of law would be followed in his country. Though he did his best and became Speaker of parliament he was eventually forced to once again flee his homeland. His story gives the reader a much better understanding of Rwanda's tragic history. This book is worth reading but is a memoir as I mentioned and not a history book.… (meer)

"God Sleeps in Rwanda" is a memoir or, more specifically as the author dubs it, "a journey of transformation." Not only does this book describe the author's transformation, but it takes the reader on a journey of transformation as well.

In recent years several books have come out centered on the Rwandan genocide of 1994, during which Hutu citizens and soldiers massacred nearly 1 million Rwandans of Tutsi ethnicity. Sebarenzi's memoir also deals with the genocide. What sets it apart is that it clearly places the genocide in the context of Rwandan history. Sebarenzi skillfully describes how the seeds of genocide were sown during Belgian's colonization of Rwanda, and how the leaders manipulated ethnic differences and fostered hatred between Tutsi and Hutu to further its own agenda.

What's so impressive about this novel is the depth and breadth of information that it covers, without ever feeling like a textbook. Sebarenzi tells the story of his own life, from the sweet innocence of his childhood to the loss of most of his large extended family in the genocide, and his rise to the speaker of the parliament in the new government afterward. Interspersed with this are the backdrop of Rwandan history, and Sebarenzi's own beliefs about how Rwanda can move forward from the atrocities that have occurred. Through all this the story never loses its intensely personal and profoundly moving tone; the author moves seamlessly between personal and historical details. The message that shines through is that each of us has a choice about the way we handle our experiences. The author chose to transform his rage and anguish at the murder of his family, into a commitment to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. He maintains this commitment in the face of dangerous, even life-threatening obstacles. He shines light onto one of the darkest times in Rwanda's history. This is a book that should not be missed; it will educate, astound, and transform.… (meer)

Like many people, I have seen Hotel Rwanda, seen the PBS documentaries on the genocide in Rwanda and read some other literature on Rwanda. But this is the first time that I am reading anything that is set in post genocide Rwanda.

Joseph Sebarenzi takes the reader on a look through his life from his boyhood to his eventual ascent to speaker of the Rwandan Parliament. Like most children he grew up without a clear understanding of the ties that separate us as human beings. He remembers the first conversation he had with his parents where it was made clear to him that he was a Tutsi and some of his friends and neighbors were Hutus. He also remembers his first memory of running to hide with his mother in a neighbor's house while praying, crying and hoping that the soldiers at the door would not get in and kill them. He remembers the feeling of being protected by his neighbor's sons who were willing to fight and die to protect the Sebarenzi family as they hid under a bed. To Sebarenzi, the genocide that would occur in 1994 was not entirely new, it was just more widespread and more effective than previous tribal clashes.

When he gets older, he is sent to Congo by his parents who realize that because of Rwanda's scarcity of resources and discrimination towards the Tutsis, he would never be able to get an education. Luckily for him he gets opportunities in Congo that allow him to receive an education, marry and eventually establishes a career as a researcher. But things begin to get sour in Rwanda and he and his family escape just in the nick of time. Sebarenzi would watch with horror on TV the decimation of the country of his birth and would realize with sadness that most of the people he left back home would not survive. By the time the conflict is over most of his extended family, including his parents, are all dead. Despite this, he decides that he will return home and try to help rebuild. Through a series of events he becomes speaker of the house and together with every day Rwandans he tries to heal his country.

The most striking thing that I noticed as I read this book was Sebarenzi's criticism of the government and administration of Paul Kagame, the former leader of the Tutsi rebels and later vice president of Rwanda. Sebarenzi claims that though Kagame was the vice president, he was the one welding real power and the president was just a figure head. He says that Kagame is a man that does not broach any opposition to his rule and will stop at nothing to silence dissent. It is this attitude that Sebarenzi believes led to his eventual ouster as speaker of parliament and his continued exile in America.

I found this book to be very informative on the history of Rwanda and its current political, economic positions and its relations with the rest of the world. One critique that I had of the book was that sometimes the author seemed a bit naive in his assessment of situations that were unfolding around him. Despite so many examples as to the kind of men he claims surrounded the Kagame government, he failed to see his ouster coming. He talks about the ways in which he believes that Kagame worked to sabotage the reforms he wanted to introduce into the country and yet he is somehow surprised when they worked to remove him from power? It is however possible that because of Sebarenzi's triumphs and trials he had an exaggerated sense of patience and trust and so was blinded to the less than noble designs of those surrounding him.

Sebarenzi also asks and brings to light so very sad and troubling questions. How do you bring to justice those who took part in the genocide? The ring leaders and people who preached hate on radio are easier to identify but this was not a war where one could clearly point to the armed forces and lay blame at their door. Here everyday people took up arms and killed their friends, neighbors and in some cases their own family. How do you bring so many to justice? Can you bring so many to justice? Should you even attempt it? Also unlike wars fought between countries, internal wars present a unique situation as they call for you to live side by side with your enemy once peace is upon you. Also as one seeks justice against your neighbor, how do you seek justice without it becoming revenge? For me the answers are not easy.

A wonderful read over all.… (meer)