Colonialism & Power
Which two European countries colonized Rwanda?
Germany and Belgium
What year did Rwanda gain independence?
1962
What was the name of the extremist radio station?
RTLM(Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines. Translated from French, this means "Free Radio and Television of the Thousand Hills,") While the radio station broadcast in both the local language, Kinyarwanda, and French, using French in the official name was a strategic choice. It was a way to appeal to and gain legitimacy with the educated, influential, and elite Hutu audience, which included key political and military figures. The station's content was tailored for different audiences, with the Kinyarwanda broadcasts often containing more explicit and virulent incitement to violence.
What does it mean to humanize someone?
To recognize their dignity, emotions, and complexity as a human being.
What region of Africa is Rwanda located in?
East Africa
What system did Belgians use to give power to one group over another?
Divide and conquer
Who was assassinated on April 6, 1994, triggering the genocide?
President Juvénal Habyarimana
What did this radio station spread?
Hate speech and propaganda
Why is humanizing important when studying genocide?
It helps us understand real people’s lives and avoid reducing them to statistics.
Name one country bordering Rwanda.
Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, or DRC.
Which group did Belgians favor during colonization?
Tutsi
What group eventually ended the genocide?
RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front)
What kind of violence increased in areas with high RTLM coverage?
Collective violence
How can stories and data work together to tell a fuller history?
Stories humanize individuals; data shows structural patterns.
What was the reaction of the international community during the genocide?
Largely inaction / lack of intervention.
What document did Belgians create that solidified ethnic divisions?
Ethnicity based ID cards (they did this in the Holocaust too)
What event marked the beginning of large-scale anti-Tutsi violence in the late 1950s?
Hutu Revolution
Why was radio so powerful in 1994 Rwanda?
High access, coordination effect, and limited other media sources.
Where is Rwanda located?
East Africa
What year did the genocide take place?
1994
How did colonialism contribute to the genocide decades later?
It created deep ethnic divisions and resentment that extremist groups exploited.
Why was the introduction of ID cards in 1926 a major turning point?
It formalized ethnic hierarchy and created lasting divisions.
How does propaganda contribute to mass violence?
It dehumanizes people and organizes coordinated attacks.
What were the Sokoku Edicts?
Issued: 1630s
Main goals:
Prevent the spread of Christianity (especially from European missionaries).
Control foreign trade and influence.
Maintain political stability under the shogunate.
Major policies included:
Expelling foreign missionaries.
Prohibiting Japanese citizens from traveling abroad or returning.
Allowing only limited trade with the Dutch and Chinese through Dejima (an island in Nagasaki).
Impact:
Japan remained largely isolated from the outside world for over 200 years.
Foreign trade was strictly regulated until the 1850s when Japan reopened under pressure from the U.S. (e.g., Convention of Kanagawa).
How can visiting Rwanda, like the Egyptian girl in the interview, shape global understanding?
It builds empathy, cultural connection, and awareness of shared humanity.