1. THE MEDIATHE MEDIA
&&
THE RWANDAN GENOCIDETHE RWANDAN GENOCIDE
Anita SiroAnita Siro
(09-0591)(09-0591)
2. Rwanda: Land of a Thousand HillsRwanda: Land of a Thousand Hills
Rwanda is a landlocked republic in EquatorialRwanda is a landlocked republic in Equatorial
Africa, situated on the western arm of the Great RiftAfrica, situated on the western arm of the Great Rift
Valley, on the watershed between Africa's twoValley, on the watershed between Africa's two
largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo.largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo.
3. A Brief HistoryA Brief History • Over 2000 yrs ago thereOver 2000 yrs ago there
was no Hutu, Tutsi orwas no Hutu, Tutsi or
Twa.Twa.
• Differentiation inDifferentiation in
economic activity led toeconomic activity led to
the prosperity of some.the prosperity of some.
• Wealth was measured inWealth was measured in
terms of cattle and powerterms of cattle and power
in terms of subjectsin terms of subjects
4. • Hence the terms Tutsi: A person rich inHence the terms Tutsi: A person rich in
cattle and Hutu: follower of a powerfulcattle and Hutu: follower of a powerful
personperson
• A Hutu could become Tutsi through theA Hutu could become Tutsi through the
acquisition of wealthacquisition of wealth
• Marriages within occupational groups overMarriages within occupational groups over
generations created a gene pool.generations created a gene pool.
5. The GenesisThe Genesis
Colonial RwandaColonial Rwanda
• Colonialists believed the Hutu, Tutsi andColonialists believed the Hutu, Tutsi and
Twa were 3 distinct races ( Ethopid, BantuTwa were 3 distinct races ( Ethopid, Bantu
and Pygmoid.)and Pygmoid.)
• Thus reinforcing Tutsi’s ideas ofThus reinforcing Tutsi’s ideas of
superiority.superiority.
6. The Hutu RevolutionThe Hutu Revolution
• The Dog bit the hand that fed it. The TutsiThe Dog bit the hand that fed it. The Tutsi
began agitating for freedombegan agitating for freedom
• The Belgians retaliated by embracing theThe Belgians retaliated by embracing the
Hutu and placing them in positions ofHutu and placing them in positions of
power. This abrupt shift led to the 1959power. This abrupt shift led to the 1959
Genocide; the Hutu revolution.Genocide; the Hutu revolution.
7. The 1994 GenocideThe 1994 Genocide
• April 6, 1994 PresidentApril 6, 1994 President
Habyarimana’s plane is shot down,Habyarimana’s plane is shot down,
probably by Hutu extremist’s withprobably by Hutu extremist’s with
no sympathy for an accomodationistno sympathy for an accomodationist
presidentpresident
Genocide begun within 24Genocide begun within 24
Hours of the crash.Hours of the crash.
More than 800,000 peopleMore than 800,000 people
Died in the massacre.Died in the massacre.
8. Hate MediaHate Media
the invisible Machete……the invisible Machete……
• ““Without a firearm or any physicalWithout a firearm or any physical
weapon, you caused the death ofweapon, you caused the death of
thousands of innocent civilians”thousands of innocent civilians”
ICTR Judge Pillay, in sentencingICTR Judge Pillay, in sentencing
Ferdinand Nahimana, founder of RTLMFerdinand Nahimana, founder of RTLM
RadioRadio
9. The RadioThe Radio
• Oral communication in pre-colonial AfricaOral communication in pre-colonial Africa
• Increased Dependence on the radio forIncreased Dependence on the radio for
political informationpolitical information
• The 1994 Genocide transformed the mediaThe 1994 Genocide transformed the media
into macro-agenda setting tools.into macro-agenda setting tools.
10. • Broadcasts in KinyarwandaBroadcasts in Kinyarwanda
• Faulting of oppositional sources of informationFaulting of oppositional sources of information
• Technique of ReversalTechnique of Reversal
(Biblical references, Songs, Familiar historical context)(Biblical references, Songs, Familiar historical context)
• Indoctrination through political dichotomizationIndoctrination through political dichotomization
• A skewed sense of patriotismA skewed sense of patriotism
• Misleading broadcasts….to trap the Tutsi.Misleading broadcasts….to trap the Tutsi.
11. Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework
• Media Dependency and related frameworksMedia Dependency and related frameworks
FramingFraming Selection of aspects of a perceived realitySelection of aspects of a perceived reality
and to make them more salient.and to make them more salient.
&&
Agenda settingAgenda setting the process by which media exertsthe process by which media exerts
influence on what is significant in the public domain.influence on what is significant in the public domain.
• Collective reaction EffectsCollective reaction Effects ; Joint reactions of; Joint reactions of
many in a shared experiencemany in a shared experience
12. Beating the Drums, Setting theBeating the Drums, Setting the
Stage & Dancing with the DevilStage & Dancing with the Devil
PROPAGANDAPROPAGANDA
They beat the Drums ofThey beat the Drums of
propaganda….a signal topropaganda….a signal to
attack, keeping allattack, keeping all
dancers moving indancers moving in
rhythm.rhythm.
13. Media and Agenda setting and
framing roles and the absence of
alterative voices can set the stage
for unusually powerful propaganda
( Distribution of free radios)
We underestimated the force of the
propaganda…in the years preceding
the genocide.
The psychological conditions for a
collective reaction were put in
place..Andre Sibomana (Survivor)
14. • Accusation in a mirrorAccusation in a mirror
• False Warning of Hutu leaders inFalse Warning of Hutu leaders in
Bugesera of Tutsi plan to attackBugesera of Tutsi plan to attack
• Lively music, conversational style ofLively music, conversational style of
reporting that included also reports andreporting that included also reports and
rumorsrumors
• A cockroach cannot give birth to aA cockroach cannot give birth to a
butterfly…. Traits peculiar to the Tutsibutterfly…. Traits peculiar to the Tutsi
• Infiltration of Central Africa by theInfiltration of Central Africa by the
EthiopidsEthiopids
• The transformation of Tutsi’s mothers andThe transformation of Tutsi’s mothers and
Sisters into pistolsSisters into pistols
15. • Failure to reportFailure to report
• Genocide or civil war?Genocide or civil war?
• Underestimation of the fatalitiesUnderestimation of the fatalities
• Focus on Kigali (4%)Focus on Kigali (4%)
• Mixing up of obvious facts such as the HutuMixing up of obvious facts such as the Hutu
being targets of the Tutsibeing targets of the Tutsi
• The targets? The opposition or the Tutsi?The targets? The opposition or the Tutsi?
The Western Media….The Western Media….
The Sleeping Watch Dog??The Sleeping Watch Dog??
16. Why the LapseWhy the Lapse
Evacuations,
Tutsi rebels,
erroneous attitude towards African politics
??
17. The Hutu Ten CommandmentsThe Hutu Ten Commandments
• 1. Every Hutu1. Every Hutu
should knowshould know
that a Tutsithat a Tutsi
woman,woman,
whoever she is,whoever she is,
works for theworks for the
interest of herinterest of her
Tutsi ethnicTutsi ethnic
groupgroup
18. • 2. Every Hutu should know that our2. Every Hutu should know that our
Hutu daughters are more suitableHutu daughters are more suitable
and conscientiousand conscientious
• 3.3. Hutu women, be vigilant and tryHutu women, be vigilant and try
to bring your husbands, brothersto bring your husbands, brothers
and sons back to reason.and sons back to reason.
• 4. Every Hutu should know that4. Every Hutu should know that
every Tutsi is dishonest inevery Tutsi is dishonest in
business.business.
19. • 6. The education sector (school pupils,6. The education sector (school pupils,
students, teachers) must be majoritystudents, teachers) must be majority
Hutu.Hutu.
7.7. The Rwandan Armed Forces shouldThe Rwandan Armed Forces should
be exclusively Hutu. No member of thebe exclusively Hutu. No member of the
military shall marry a Tutsi.military shall marry a Tutsi.
• 8. The Hutu should stop having mercy8. The Hutu should stop having mercy
on the Tutsi.on the Tutsi.
9.9. The Hutu, wherever they are, mustThe Hutu, wherever they are, must
have unity and solidarityhave unity and solidarity
20. •10. The Hutu Ideology, must be10. The Hutu Ideology, must be
taught to every Hutu at every level.taught to every Hutu at every level.
Every Hutu must spread this ideologyEvery Hutu must spread this ideology
21. • Giorgio Ruggiu, Broadcasting onGiorgio Ruggiu, Broadcasting on
RTLM…RTLM…
““What are you waiting for? The tombsWhat are you waiting for? The tombs
are empty. Take up your machetesare empty. Take up your machetes
and hack the enemy to pieces”and hack the enemy to pieces”
22. Peace and reconciliationPeace and reconciliation
THE GREAT LAKESTHE GREAT LAKES
RECONCILIATION RADIORECONCILIATION RADIO
PROJECTPROJECT
• Counteraction of hate media throughCounteraction of hate media through
sensitizationsensitization
• Applied psychology andApplied psychology and
genocide studiesgenocide studies
• Serial radio dramasSerial radio dramas
• Public debate programs;Public debate programs;
