With “The Convoy”, writer Beata Umubyeyi-Mairesse delivers the poignant investigative story of her rescue on June 18, 1994 during the Rwandan genocide. A striking testimony.
The book begins with these words: “My life was saved. On June 18, 1994, I was able to flee my country thanks to a convoy from the Swiss humanitarian organization Terre des Hommes. I was 15 then. » It is the writer Beata Umubyeyi-Mairesse who speaks like this.
So almost 30 years ago, she and her mother left Butare, Rwanda’s second city, hidden in the back of a truck reserved for children under 12, and found refuge in neighboring Burundi. It was 30 years ago, and it took him 15 years of research, reading, moving and sometimes surprising encounters, 15 years of progress and disappointment, reflection and writing to publish the book that is coming out. Today.
The investigative story of a young survivor of the Rwandan genocide, with memories and words of great precision, great sobriety, and great humanity too. “ The convoy » was published by Flammarion.
Beata Umubyeyi-Mairesse is the guest of VMDN.
Reporting : at the Galerie du jour in Paris, with the support of Agnès B. Photos by Dennis Morris, known for his famous photos of Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols. Long before going to concerts, the very young photographer cut his teeth photographing his community, Caribbean immigrants in London in the 1970s. The exhibition is called “ Colored Black People “. Laura Dulieu went there for VMDN.