Buffalo State University Hosts Kwibuka 32
Buffalo State University hosts Kwibuka 32, the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, onSaturday May 9th with more than 300 attendees from across the region, including members of the local Rwandan community, students, educators, and local leaders. Kwibuka means 'Remember' in Kinyarwanda, and is simultaneously a solemn, inspirational, and educational event. Rwandas all over the world commemorate this event under the same theme: Remember. Unite. Renew.
Each year, numerous events are held in honor of Kwibuka and for the second year in a row, Buffalo State’s Anne Frank Project hosted an open-to-the-public event on campus, co-sponsored by the Buffalo Rwanda Community Association (BRCA).
The event began with an invocation prayer, followed by a moment of silence and a Light of Hope ceremony symbolizing resilience and unity. The evening continued with a short documentary screening that provided historical context on the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and its lasting aftermath.
Guests then heard welcoming remarks from Rev. Emmanuel Ganza, Ph.D., along with addresses from Buffalo State University’s Associate Vice President of Graduate, Research, and Special Programs, M. Scott Goodman, Ph.D., County Legislator Lawrence Dupre, and State Senator Jeremy Zellner. The program also featured a powerful testimony from genocide survivor Yvette Rugasaguhunga and a keynote address by SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and Anne Frank Project Director Drew Kahn.
Children and grandchildren of those lost during the genocide later honored their loved ones by sharing how they continue to carry forward their legacies. The evening concluded with official remarks from the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the United States, Madam Mathilde Mukantabana, followed by a reception featuring traditional Rwandan cuisine.
Buffalo State University is proud to had hosted Kwibuka 32. We are honored to had authentically engaged with this important Rwandan ritual.