April 11, 2012
BOOK OF LIFE | Annual Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide
On Wednesday, April 11th I will be performing in Odile Gakire Katese's Book of Life as part of the 18th Annual Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide. Book of Life is a collection of 100 letters to the dead from orphans, widows, and imprisoned genocidaires. It aims to build a bridge between death and life, the past and the future, despair and hope. I am deeply honored and grateful to be a part of this memorial.
Please read more about Odile and her projects here.www.professionaldreamers.rw
This performance is directed by Ludovica Villar-Hauser and also features Richarda Abrams, Abraham Ampka, and Brian Richardson.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 | 6:00-7:30pm
ECOSOC Chamber | UN Headquarters, New York
Although art and culture are not high on the list of priorities of most Rwandans, Katese is hopeful for the future. "Before the genocide there was virtually no cultural life. Now we have festivals, a modern dance group and a growing film industry. We must nurture and stimulate these. Art inspires us to ask questions, express doubts and put things in perspective. In doing so, we can reduce the chance that something like the genocide will ever happen again. Am I being naive? That's fine. It is exactly what we need in Rwanda so that we can dream again." Odile Gakire Katese