From Memory to Action Through Kwibuka at James Madison University

From Memory to Action Through Kwibuka at James Madison University
By Ghilain Kajyibwami and Maurice Isabwe

On April 24, 2026, students in the Master of Public Administration program at James Madison University organized Kwibuka 32, the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The event brought together more than 140 attendees from across the university, neighboring universities, the broader Harrisonburg community, and the Rwandan community in the DMV area.

"Kwibuka" means to remember in Kinyarwanda, observed globally every year from April 7 to July 4, marking the 100 days of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. At JMU, commemoration has become both a memorial and an educational space, inviting participants to engage with themes of prevention, reconciliation, and resilience. This year's event builds on the momentum of Kwibuka 31, held on April 11, 2025, equally organized by MPA students, affirming that Kwibuka at JMU is not a one-time effort but an enduring commitment.   

The program honored the memory of more than one million Tutsi killed between April and July 1994, while emphasizing global responsibility in preventing future atrocities. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Bojana Coulibaly, Harvard African Language Program Manager, who reminded attendees that we are no longer debating what happened in Rwanda, but we are responsible for how we respond to it. Her remarks were complemented by powerful testimonies from genocide survivors, which grounded the event in lived experience and deepened the audience's understanding of the human impact of the genocide. The commemoration was further honored by the presence of Arthur Asiimwe, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Rwanda to the United States, who emphasized the importance of remembrance, unity, and the continued global commitment to "Never Again."

The success of this commemoration reflects the dedication of current MPA students and recent graduates Maurice Isabwe Rusagara (MPA '26), Ghilain Kajyibwami (MPA '26), Christian Bahire (MPA '26), Ghislain Dukuze (MPA '27), Frank Shema (MPA '27), Kitoko (MPA’25), Emery Rwandanga (MPA’25), and Bangaly Diakite (MPA '25), alongside Rwandan students from across other JMU programs. Special recognition goes to campus partners the Department of Political Science, the Center for Global Engagement, the African, African American, and Diaspora Studies Center, the Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue, the Department of Justice Studies, the Nelson Institute, the Gandhi Center, the College of Education, Ole School Alumni Group, and Access, Compliance and Engagement whose support made this commemoration truly interdisciplinary.

Through Kwibuka, MPA students at James Madison University continue to exemplify ethical leadership, global awareness, and a deep commitment to public service, affirming that honoring the past is inseparable from our responsibility in the present.