Books on Rwanda that are not about the genocide

March 7, 2017 12:34 PM

I would like to read books that are about Rwanda, but do not focus on the genocide.

I would like books that discuss the history, culture, language, cuisine, geography, folklore and wildlife of Rwanda that do not focus on the genocide, the Congo conflicts, or the recovery since then. Books featuring the general region are welcome too. I would also enjoy fiction from Rwandan authors, though they must be in English.

posted by florencetnoa to Grab Bag (3 answers total)

Land of a Thousand Hills by Rosalind Carr, is a memoir that begins in the 50's by a friend of Dian Fossey
Teta: story of a young girl by Barassa (Real Africa Books, 2010) is fiction and has a rough English translation. The Past Ahead from Gilbert Gatore is post-genocide. Joy Uwanziga's Manners in Rwanda is good if you are traveling there.

Happy reading!
posted by childofTethys at 3:10 PM on March 7, 2017

I don't have any books and this is more-or-less present time, so it's not really an answer to your specific question, but perhaps of some interest: I heard a fascinating story about the Rwandan women's debate team as part of an Invisbibilia episode last summer. At the bottom of that page is a link to read a transcript. (Note: It is only part of this episode.) This NPR posting (based on the Invisibilia episode) is more easily readable and if I remember correctly covers similar material and/or provides a bit of further background.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 5:59 PM on March 7, 2017

The NYT had an interesting article called "The Global Elite's Favorite Strongman Back in 2013, which you might want to check out.
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 4:33 AM on March 8, 2017