In 2019, Janvier Murenzi wrote “Mata y’ amaraso,” a composition to commemorate the 1994 genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda.
Murenzi lives in Huye, in the south of the country. The 62-year-old is a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, where he teaches courses in social thought, philosophy, and political thought. He is also a music instructor at the Rwanda School of Creative Arts and Music. “Mata y’ amaraso” combines his classical music education with lyrics in Kinyarwanda.
It has now been 30 years since the genocide that killed as many as 1 million Rwandans. The country has made significant strides in the past three decades, but continues to grapple with its history—and its methods for moving forward.
In early March, VAN spoke with Murenzi about his composition and what meaning it holds now, 30 years after the genocide.
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