About the Book
Evelyne Mukasonga’s memoir is a poignant tale of resilience and reconciliation. It unveils her idyllic upbringing in Gisenyi, where her parents, prosperous entrepreneurs and devout Christians, provided a nurturing environment. Yet, the mixed heritage of Evelyne’s parents, with her father being Hutu and her mother Tutsi, subjected her to persecution.
The narrative swiftly transitions into a gripping chronicle of Evelyne’s perilous escapes during the 1994 genocide. She survives by seeking refuge in the homes of family friends, adopting disguises to evade death, and confronting murderous mobs with remarkable composure. But the journey doesn’t end there. The memoir continues as Evelyne finds sanctuary in Goma, DRC, where she meets her husband and welcomes her first child.
However, this haven soon transforms into another ordeal as the DRC plunges into chaos during the “first African World War.” Caught amidst the conflict between President Laurent Kabila’s forces and rebel militias, Evelyne and her family face renewed peril. With Rwanda backing the Congolese rebels and perceiving her as Rwandan Tutsi, Evelyne’s life, along with her son’s, is once again in jeopardy.
Forced to flee within Zaire, they endure hunger, illness, and imprisonment in a male detention center. Eventually rescued by the UN, they are resettled in the USA. There, Evelyne and her husband embark on a path of peacebuilding and community activism, turning their experiences into a beacon of hope amidst adversity.
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About the Book
The narrative swiftly transitions into a gripping chronicle of Evelyne’s perilous escapes during the 1994 genocide. She survives by seeking refuge in the homes of family friends, adopting disguises to evade death, and confronting murderous mobs with remarkable composure. But the journey doesn’t end there. The memoir continues as Evelyne finds sanctuary in Goma, DRC, where she meets her husband and welcomes her first child.
However, this haven soon transforms into another ordeal as the DRC plunges into chaos during the “first African World War.” Caught amidst the conflict between President Laurent Kabila’s forces and rebel militias, Evelyne and her family face renewed peril. With Rwanda backing the Congolese rebels and perceiving her as Rwandan Tutsi, Evelyne’s life, along with her son’s, is once again in jeopardy.
Forced to flee within Zaire, they endure hunger, illness, and imprisonment in a male detention center. Eventually rescued by the UN, they are resettled in the USA. There, Evelyne and her husband embark on a path of peacebuilding and community activism, turning their experiences into a beacon of hope amidst adversity.
Read an Excerpt Order a Copy Now