Itsembatsemba (1996-2000)

On April 6th, 1994, Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana was assassinated. The authorities immediately put into practice their extermination plan, which sought to murder all opponents of their regime as well as the totality of Tutsi’s minority in Rwanda. In less than a hundred days, soldiers and militiamen, with the help of a section of the civilian population, killed between 700,000 and 1,000,000 people.
These images were taken between 1996 and 2000. They are accompanied by archive material from the ‘Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines’ (One Thousand Hills Free Radio and Television) – RTLM, the famous ‘Hate Radio’. The RTLM began broadcasting in 1993 with the help of the power and played an essential role in the diffusion of the racist ideology then in the triggering and coordination of the killings.

‟Welcome to your free radio station, the friendly radio, on 106 FM. You’re listening to RTLM. The enemy threatens us. Then hold hardly! It is not the moment to cry or to complain !”
Habimana Kantano, RTLM, July 2nd,1994

‟I would like to say a big hello to the youngsters at the Kimisagara road block. Yesterday, when I met them, they were dancing the Zouk, Stay alert ! Keep a watchful eye even on the sewers ! Don’t let any rat through. Let rage spur you on ! We will continue the fight for our town and our country. Dear brothers, be strong ! Stay tuned to RTLM. It is exactly 12.02 am.”
Habimana Kantano, RTLM, between May 26th and 28th,1994

“Thus look at a person and see its size and its physical appearance, look only at his nice little nose and then break it.”
Habimana Kantano, RTLM, June 4th, 1994

‟We ask the population of Gikondo to show always vigilance and to make always severe controls in all the districts to finish it with any enemy intrusion. Double vigilance, exactly in the hill of Mburabuturo and the surroundings …”
Kabonabake Thomas, RTLM, April 13th,1994

‟They are truly a dirty race ! I don’t no if God can help us. It is up to us to wipe them out.”
Habimana Kantano, RTLM, July 2nd, 1994

‟Those rats who used to phone me on the radio, where have they gone ? They must have been exterminated… They must have been exterminated… So let us sing together : Let us be delighted, my friends ! The rats have been wiped out ! Let us be delighted, my friends, my friends ! The rats have been wiped out ! Let us be delighted my friends ! God is never unjust !”
Habimana Kantano, RTLM, July 2nd, 1994