Kigali Genocide Memorial

About this place

The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a place of remembrance and learning in the Gisozi district, honouring the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The remains of more than 250,000 people are buried here, and bereaved families still come to bury and visit their relatives. Visitors come to understand what happened and to stand quietly before its scale. The widely accepted estimate is close to 800,000 people killed, with figures ranging from 500,000 to more than a million. Kigali City Council began the building in 2000, and the British-based Aegis Trust was invited to prepare the exhibitions. The Trust runs the site today on behalf of the national commission responsible. The displays include a section on other genocides around the world. You enter under a white arch bearing the memorial's name and walk through quiet gardens of roses and planted beds. The main features outside are the mass graves under concrete slabs and a long wall carved with victims' names, left incomplete because so many names are lost. Inside are photographs, testimonies and a room dedicated to the children. It is about 2 km from the Kandt House Museum in a straight line. Allow at least two hours, and an audio guide is available. The content is very harsh, so think before bringing children. Dress modestly, keep quiet and do not take photos in the exhibitions or at the graves if asked not to. Many leave shaken, so plan nothing noisy afterwards.