This document provides excerpts from propaganda songs used in instances of genocide to incite violence and promote ethnic hatred. The songs analyzed come from Rwanda ("Twasa Zareye" and "Nanga Abahutu"), Nazi Germany ("Horst-Wessel-Lied"), Cambodia ("The Good Comrade", "In One Hand Holding a Gun, In the Other Hand a Hoe, Defending and Building the Motherland", "The Countryside of the New Kampuchea Under the Light of the Shining Revolution", and "Children of the New Kampuchea") and promote ethnic superiority, dehumanization of victims, glorification of political leaders and calls to violence.
2. TWASAZAREYE
“We have put the monarchy behind us,
the evil feudal and colonial yoke have bother departed,
So now we have a democracy which suits us.
Come, let us together rejoice”
3. NANGA ABAHUTU
“I hate these Hutu, these arrogant Hutu, braggarts,
Who scorn other Hutu, dear comrades.
I hate these Hutus, these de-Hutuized Hutu,
Who have disowned their identity, dear comrades.
I hate these Hutu, these Hutu who march blindly, like imbeciles,
This species of naïve Hutu who are manipulated, and who tear themselves up,
Joining in a war whose cause they ignore.
I detest these Hutu who are brought to kill- to kill, I swear to you,
And who kill the Hutu, dear comrades,
If I hate them, so much the better”
4. HORST-WESSEL-LIED
• “Already Hitler’s banners fly over all streets.
The time of bondage will last but a little while now!
Soon Hitler’s banners will fly over all streets.”
• “Millions are looking upon the swastika full of hope,
the day of freedom and of bread dawns!”
5. THE GOOD COMRADE
“I once had a comrade,
You will find no better.
The drum called to battle,
He walked at my side,
In the same pace and step.
A bullet came flying,
Is my turn or yours?
He was swept away,
He lies at my feet,
As if it was a part of me.”
6. “IN ONE HAND HOLDING A GUN, IN THE OTHER
HAND A HOE, DEFENDING AND BUILDING THE
MOTHERLAND”
“In one hand holding a weapon, with vigorous will,
Energetic and brace,
Always preparing us to strike the envious enemy,
The insolent wastrels who invade our land-
To destroy the ghost robbers who rely on
Wild, brutal power,
Not allowing them to set their menacing feet
On our amazingly great lands”
7. THE COUNTRYSIDE OF THE NEW KAMPUCHEA
UNDER THE LIGHT OF THE SHINING
REVOLUTION
• “Light of the revolution that brings purity to the order of treasonous cliques”
• “We feel great joy to live in the country,
Great pride and great happiness.
We struggle to increase prosperity again and again”
• “To mend the people’s way of living and bring happiness,
to mend the people’s way of living and bring happiness.”
8. CHILDREN OF THE NEW KAMPUCHEA
“We the children have the happiness
To live the rest of our time in precious harmony,
Under the affectionate care
Of the Kampuchean revolution”
“Arranging matters in the village, battling vigorously,
Striving to build us up in the movement,
In order to assure the future of the revolution”