Recently Dan Sullivan and a few others around Coach have asked me if I'm planning another trip back to Rwanda. While I have decided not to return this year I am getting itchy feet and have looked at The Bigger Future workshop schedule for 2012.
I've been reading my blog posts to relive some of the journey, and because I'm missing my Rwandan friends and would love to see them soon, my intention is to return sometime in 2012. Anyone else want to join me?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
"We Are the People We Have Been Waiting For"
article from allafrica.org
"We Are the People We Have Been Waiting For"
I’ve heard the above statement uttered before but I’d never thought of it in connection with Rwanda. I could well imagine it being pronounced by an aspiring president of a super power like USA about his country but not by a third world leader about their country, especially one on the African continent.
I don't see how today's Rwandans can be the ones that Rwanda has been waiting for. In any case, waiting for what and since when?
Before the advent of colonialism, Rwanda was a vast expanse covering today's Rwanda and large swaths of Eastern D.R. Congo, Southern Uganda and North-Western Tanzania. Rwandans were known as the indomitable warrior tribe of the central African highlands that no one dared offend. They were known for being a formidable force that fiercely defended their own.
Their invincibility was known in areas as distant as the Indian Ocean coast. For this reason, no Arab slave trader ventured into any area that was under the control of a Rwandan king, or what were called his kinglets (ibihinza, who controlled small kingdoms that paid homage to him).
This factor helped in fending off Arab slave-traders. While those Arabs could easily pick slaves from other areas by offering trinkets to local chiefs or scaring them with guns, they never dared penetrate into Rwanda. No Rwandan could be scared into losing another Rwandan. No Rwandan could consider selling another Rwandan.
As Rwandans survived by defending one another, everyone was an asset to the community and to one another.
Having picked those stories on their way into central Africa, the German colonialists offered friendship and partnership so as to cleverly warm their way into the hearts of Rwandans. The partnership was in the form of fighting alongside them to conquer more areas from neighbouring tribes. Of course, we now know that this was around 1894 and Rwanda's fate had already been sealed by the Berlin Conference of 1884/5.
Rwanda had been portioned off to Congo for the Belgians, Uganda for the English and Tanzania for the Germans. The surviving core territory of Rwanda that was given to Germany was practically negligible. When Belgium took over control of this revised Rwanda with the defeat of Germany in WW I, Belgians knew they had to shred up this strongly united community or lose grip of it.
They could not have had any problem in that, of course. They had their own community to draw lessons from, a community that has never had a stable government in its fractured life. By the time they left, they had done such a 'good' job of fracturing our own community that our fellow Rwandans were ready to send us into a long dark night that all but consumed Rwanda as a country.
So, can the Rwandans of today be the ones that Rwanda has been waiting for to return her to her lost glory?
For, what that involves is not only reconstruction of the strong bond that glued Rwandans together. It goes beyond to include recovering their 'lost counties' and peoples, an idea that is too wacky to be fathomable. It is true that communities have been able to secede from forced parenthood in our own history but it has been too costly for the peoples of the communities to encourage such a venture. Eritrea, Somaliland and South Sudan immediately come to mind.
Yet for Rwanda, I see a possibility.
It is evident now that Rwandans have gone through a healing process that has led to levels of reconciliations unimaginable a few years ago. The fact alone that they themselves crafted that healing machine and that it has registered success is reason to be optimistic. Rwandans cannot allow that machine to be derailed, knowing the cost of what they paid to put its engine in motion. Soon, save for a few black sheep, Rwandans will be one again.
As to regaining their "lost counties" and peoples, the answer lies at that core belief of Rwandans: that whatever territory a Rwandan occupies becomes their Rwanda. As I heard the headline quote of this article evoked at the meeting President Kagame had with Rwandans and friends in Chicago last June 11th 2011, so did I hear the evocation of that 'core belief' at the same venue.
All of which goes to show that Rwandans are not bounded by frontiers. Rwandans are Rwandans wherever they are and whatever nationality they hold.
When President Kagame evokes this totality of the values that Rwandans hold so dear, outsiders should not be surprised when their countries are emptied of all with a connection to Rwanda who flock to meet him. It's the same as when young and old in Rwandan empty their homes to converge on a meeting rendezvous with him.
Rwandans have been waiting to be one again. And they've been waiting from the time colonialism tore them apart.
Yes, Rwandans, "We are the change that we seek." (Courtesy, President Obama).
"We Are the People We Have Been Waiting For"
I’ve heard the above statement uttered before but I’d never thought of it in connection with Rwanda. I could well imagine it being pronounced by an aspiring president of a super power like USA about his country but not by a third world leader about their country, especially one on the African continent.
I don't see how today's Rwandans can be the ones that Rwanda has been waiting for. In any case, waiting for what and since when?
Before the advent of colonialism, Rwanda was a vast expanse covering today's Rwanda and large swaths of Eastern D.R. Congo, Southern Uganda and North-Western Tanzania. Rwandans were known as the indomitable warrior tribe of the central African highlands that no one dared offend. They were known for being a formidable force that fiercely defended their own.
Their invincibility was known in areas as distant as the Indian Ocean coast. For this reason, no Arab slave trader ventured into any area that was under the control of a Rwandan king, or what were called his kinglets (ibihinza, who controlled small kingdoms that paid homage to him).
This factor helped in fending off Arab slave-traders. While those Arabs could easily pick slaves from other areas by offering trinkets to local chiefs or scaring them with guns, they never dared penetrate into Rwanda. No Rwandan could be scared into losing another Rwandan. No Rwandan could consider selling another Rwandan.
As Rwandans survived by defending one another, everyone was an asset to the community and to one another.
Having picked those stories on their way into central Africa, the German colonialists offered friendship and partnership so as to cleverly warm their way into the hearts of Rwandans. The partnership was in the form of fighting alongside them to conquer more areas from neighbouring tribes. Of course, we now know that this was around 1894 and Rwanda's fate had already been sealed by the Berlin Conference of 1884/5.
Rwanda had been portioned off to Congo for the Belgians, Uganda for the English and Tanzania for the Germans. The surviving core territory of Rwanda that was given to Germany was practically negligible. When Belgium took over control of this revised Rwanda with the defeat of Germany in WW I, Belgians knew they had to shred up this strongly united community or lose grip of it.
They could not have had any problem in that, of course. They had their own community to draw lessons from, a community that has never had a stable government in its fractured life. By the time they left, they had done such a 'good' job of fracturing our own community that our fellow Rwandans were ready to send us into a long dark night that all but consumed Rwanda as a country.
So, can the Rwandans of today be the ones that Rwanda has been waiting for to return her to her lost glory?
For, what that involves is not only reconstruction of the strong bond that glued Rwandans together. It goes beyond to include recovering their 'lost counties' and peoples, an idea that is too wacky to be fathomable. It is true that communities have been able to secede from forced parenthood in our own history but it has been too costly for the peoples of the communities to encourage such a venture. Eritrea, Somaliland and South Sudan immediately come to mind.
Yet for Rwanda, I see a possibility.
It is evident now that Rwandans have gone through a healing process that has led to levels of reconciliations unimaginable a few years ago. The fact alone that they themselves crafted that healing machine and that it has registered success is reason to be optimistic. Rwandans cannot allow that machine to be derailed, knowing the cost of what they paid to put its engine in motion. Soon, save for a few black sheep, Rwandans will be one again.
As to regaining their "lost counties" and peoples, the answer lies at that core belief of Rwandans: that whatever territory a Rwandan occupies becomes their Rwanda. As I heard the headline quote of this article evoked at the meeting President Kagame had with Rwandans and friends in Chicago last June 11th 2011, so did I hear the evocation of that 'core belief' at the same venue.
All of which goes to show that Rwandans are not bounded by frontiers. Rwandans are Rwandans wherever they are and whatever nationality they hold.
When President Kagame evokes this totality of the values that Rwandans hold so dear, outsiders should not be surprised when their countries are emptied of all with a connection to Rwanda who flock to meet him. It's the same as when young and old in Rwandan empty their homes to converge on a meeting rendezvous with him.
Rwandans have been waiting to be one again. And they've been waiting from the time colonialism tore them apart.
Yes, Rwandans, "We are the change that we seek." (Courtesy, President Obama).
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Art for Africa Postponed
Want to let you all know that the next Art for Africa will take place in 2012. The date is TBD.
In the meantime, if you'd still like to show your support, please make a donation by clicking the donate button on the right. :)
In the meantime, if you'd still like to show your support, please make a donation by clicking the donate button on the right. :)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Funny Poster from Rwanda
A friend in Rwanda posted this on facebook today, and I thought North American's were germ-a-phobes! He tells me this is "the style." lol
Friday, December 17, 2010
Video about Rwanda
Here's a video that shows you why I've fallen in love with Rwanda and it's people. It's a country full of hope, forgiveness, and a very bright future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oasGWQglz4c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oasGWQglz4c
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thank You
Thanks to everyone who has donated money, toys, clothes and other gifts to me and the people I visit in Rwanda. I really appreciate your support and generosity and I know it's all gone to very good use and has brought many smiles to many faces (mine included!).
Also, huge thanks for the lovely emails and notes I've received over the last month. Your words mean a lot to me and I'm happy to be sharing this life-changing experience with you. :) I've kept all the notes and plan to make a binder - or something - as a keepsake. I say "something" because I'm not a crafty person and may be better off asking someone to make it for me! lol
What's next? Project Bella is in full swing and I have my eyes on 4 orphans who have lost their parents because of HIV. In my opinion, they all deserve an education so I've started the process of raising money to pay for their schooling. More to come soon on this - I need to gather a little more info before making any announcements.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. XO
Also, huge thanks for the lovely emails and notes I've received over the last month. Your words mean a lot to me and I'm happy to be sharing this life-changing experience with you. :) I've kept all the notes and plan to make a binder - or something - as a keepsake. I say "something" because I'm not a crafty person and may be better off asking someone to make it for me! lol
What's next? Project Bella is in full swing and I have my eyes on 4 orphans who have lost their parents because of HIV. In my opinion, they all deserve an education so I've started the process of raising money to pay for their schooling. More to come soon on this - I need to gather a little more info before making any announcements.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. XO
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Meet Lilly
Today I was sent this picture of Lilly, the 3-yr old orphan I mentioned in a previous post. She's so gorgeous and she reminds me why my trips back to Rwanda are important - I'll never forgot little Lilly's hugs and cuddles and I hope to see her again soon. xo
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