Mukagasana’s trajectory – from French-language testimony to English translation via academic collaboration – demonstrates viable pathways for survivor narratives reaching global markets.
Renowned Rwandan author and genocide survivor Yolande Mukagasana has issued a powerful call to action for writers to preserve their narratives for posterity, speaking at the inaugural Women Book Awards 2026 in Kigali.
The event honoured women across the publishing sector, providing Mukagasana a platform to stress the importance of storytelling in safeguarding cultural memory.
A Voice Forged in Tragedy
Mukagasana brings formidable authority to this message. A survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, she wrote La mort ne veut pas de moi (Not My Time to Die), the first civilian testimony of the atrocity, published in 1997 – just three years after the events it chronicles.
Translated into English by Dr Zoe Norridge and published by Huza Press in 2019, the memoir recounts her experience as a nurse and mother of three who lost her husband, children, and entire family in the 100-day massacre. Her subsequent works include N’aie pas peur de savoir (1999), “Les Blessures du silence (2001), and De Bouche à oreille (2003).
Publishing’s Role in Remembrance
Mukagasana’s advocacy underlines a vital function of publishing: preserving witness testimonies that might otherwise vanish.
She began writing whilst hiding from militias, recognising that documentation was an act of resistance against erasure. Her work has garnered international recognition, including the Alexander Langer Foundation Prize for Testimony and Solidarity and an Honourable Mention for the UNESCO Education for Peace Prize.
The View From The Beach 1
The Women Book Awards 2026, supported by the Rwanda Basic Education Board, the German Embassy, and the Embassy of Brazil, signals growing institutional investment in Rwanda’s literary infrastructure.
Mukagasana’s trajectory – from French-language testimony to English translation via academic collaboration – demonstrates viable pathways for survivor narratives reaching global markets.
The View From the Beach 2: Why 22 Years For The English Translation?
Market prioritisation – Francophone African literature traditionally reached audiences through French-language networks, and English-language publishers may have initially overlooked the manuscript.
Translation funding – literary translation requires significant investment, and genocide testimonies demand particular sensitivity and accuracy.
Academic collaboration – Dr Norridge’s involvement suggests the translation emerged through academic rather than purely commercial channels, which can extend timelines.
Rwanda’s publishing infrastructure – indigenous houses like Huza Press only gained traction in the 2010s, creating new avenues for local control over narrative dissemination.
This lag illustrates broader industry challenges in translating Francophone African texts into English, where commercial viability often delays important testimonial literature.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
