RWANDA 94
An attempt at symbolic reparation to the dead, for use by the living
This book, and double CD, is a unique artistic testimony to the genocide of the Tutsi and the massacre of the Hutu opposition, in Rwanda in 1994.
It is based on the play "Rwanda 94" by the Belgian theatre company Groupov, the fruit of a four-year collaboration between western and Rwandan artists.
The 6-hour play has been adapted and transposed into two CDs of music and song, and a 275-page hardback book (bi-lingual French and English) of text and images.
The essence of the play has been faithfully kept, and the spoken and sung texts are interspersed with descriptive passages to guide the reader and listener through the action.
The book and music will appeal to all those who are interested in the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
It is a unique testimony, the only artistic attempt to explore and understand the events of that time, and to look at the historical and political context, the media treatment, and the human dimensions of the genocide - using text, images, acting, video, music and
song.It will be of equal interest to readers and listeners.
Descriptive, moving, informative, poignant, beautiful, at times humorous - Rwanda 94 works on all levels of artistic expression, information, and emotion.
The potential public for the book is vast.
It will go beyond the traditional music- and book-buying public to reach all persons who are interested in finding out about the events in Rwanda and the background to them, i.e. a public concerned by humanitarian issues and international politics.
An important media coverage is being carried in France and Belgium initially, by traditional means (articles in Le Monde, Libération, Les Inrockuptibles, Le Soir, De Morgen; radio plays and interviews on Radio France, RTBF; etc.)
In addition, and perhaps more significantly, the book is being promoted through parallel, but important circuits, and discussions are underway with international organisations to promote the book, e.g. Amnesty International, Unesco, and Médecins sans Frontières. (MSF will shortly be announcing the book in their magazine, which reaches 400.000 readers in France and Belgium.)
Given the potential public for the book, it is essential that people be able to find it in outlets other than the traditonal record or book shop. Oxfam Belgium has already agreed to place the books in their world stores, both in the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking parts of the country and we believe similar circuits are possible in other countries.
The play itself, which won Belgium's two top theatre prizes for best play in 2000, is touring internationally (France, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium), and attracts critical success and reviews wherever it goes, thereby helping to create promotion and interest for the book and CDs.
released November 29, 2019
- Garrett LIST (Conductor, Trombone)
- Manuela BUCHER (Viola)
- Fabian FIORINI (Piano)
- Geneviève FOCCROULE (Piano)
- Vincent JACQUEMIN (Clarinet)
- Véronique LIERNEUX (Violin)
- Marie-Eve RONVEAUX (Cello)
- Jean-Pol ZANUTEL (Cello)
- Christine SCHALLER (Vocals)
- Véronique SONCK (Vocals)
- Jean-Marie MUYANGO (Vocals, Percussions)
- Younouss DIALLO (Narration)
- Stéphane FAUVILLE (Narration)
- Carole KAREMERA (Narration)
- Jeanne KAYITESI (Narration)
- Francine LANDRAIN (Narration)
- Joëlle LEDENT (Narration)
- Augustin MAJYAMBERE (Narration, Percussion)
- Massamba (Narration, Vocals, Cithar, Percussion)
- Max PARFONDRY (Narration)
- Dorcy RUGAMBA (Narration, Percussion)
- François SIKIVIE (Narration)
