During the spring of 1994, in a tiny country called Rwanda, some 800,000 people were hacked to death, one by one, by their neighbors in a gruesome civil war. Several years later, journalist Jean Hatzfeld traveled to Rwanda to interview ten participants in the killings, eliciting extraordinary testimony from these men about the genocide they perpetrated. As Susan Sontag wrote in the preface, Machete Season is a document that "everyone should read . . . [because making] the effort to understand what happened in Rwanda . . . is part of being a moral adult."
Rwanda Series
This series delves into the heart of human suffering and resilience, exploring the aftermath of brutal genocide through raw, personal testimonies. It captures not only the horrors but also the incredible strength of survivors striving to rebuild their lives in the face of unimaginable loss. This is a profoundly moving exploration of memory, forgiveness, and the fragile nature of existence.
Recommended Reading Order
The Strategy of Antelopes. Rwanda After the Genocide
- 244 pages
- 9 hours of reading
This title explores conversations with both Hutus and Tutsis, including former killers and Tutsi escapees. It delves into themes of memory, hope, and the enduring nature of grief.