EngRegional
Heroes day, an opportunity for Rwanda’s youth to reflect, think big
Every year, on February 1,
Rwandans honor the people that put their lives in harm’s way to preserve and
protect the nation.
The 30th anniversary will be
celebrated under the theme “Heroism among Rwandans, our Dignity.”
Rwandans will reflect on, and eulogize
national heroes for their outstanding and important achievements.
Rwandan heroes are in three
categories – Imanzi, Imena, and Ingenzi. Imanzi are supreme heroes with
outstanding achievements occasioned by supreme sacrifice, outstanding
importance and example. Only two people fall in this category; the late Maj Gen
Fred Rwigema and the Unknown Soldier, representing all the unidentified members
of the armed struggle who paid the ultimate price in the effort to liberate
Rwanda from a dictatorial, divisive regime.
In the Imena category there is
King Mutara III Rudahigwa, Michel Rwagasana, Agathe Uwilingiyimana, Félicité
Niyitegeka, and Nyange students. The Ingenzi category comprises heroes who are
still alive.
Heroes from all these
categories teach young Rwandans a lesson of embracing patriotism, unity and
hard work by adopting the values espoused by their own heroes as a guide to
walk in their footsteps, and take Rwanda to greater heights.
Young Rwandans are today
drawing examples from each category of these heroes. The young generation
learnt from Rwigema and the unkown soldier that sacrifice is what made it
possible to liberate the country, enabling Rwandans to build the dignified and
united nation they live in today.
They draw an example from the
students of Nyange Secondary School, who shunned divisionism and put others
first. The Nyange students today teach us how to promote unity and
reconciliation.
To date, heroism is a major
value in Rwandans’ culture. The renewed unity and security in the country is
testament enough of the heroes’ ever lasting impact.
On heroes day, Rwandans
emphasise the importance of preserving unity of all citizens and fighting the
people who aim at creating divisions among them. One of the heroic values that
pushed Rwanda's national heroes to sacrifice everything is the thirst for unity
by fighting against all forms of divisionism in Rwanda.
The country has suffered
severe consequences of political systems that fostered division, which fuelled
hatred and discord, leading to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In
recognition of the national heroes and for the sake of future generations, it
is every Rwandans' duty to promote unity and fight more actively against people
who still want to divide the nation.
Heroism is one of the strong
values of Rwandan culture.
The country's youth are
especially encouraged to strive for heroism and exhibit Rwandan values,
patriotism and stand out in today’s challenging environment, for a better
future.
The youth should not allow the
hard-earned progress as a result of the price paid by the country’s heroes to be
ruined by selfish and ideologically disoriented individuals.
By and large, heroes
day, is an opportunity for the youth to reflect, think big, and uphold
patriotic values in their daily lives.
