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Rwanda has been in the news for the genocide of 1994 and its aftermath. This volume exposes Western readers to the fuller picture of Rwanda. Early European travelers attested to Rwanda's beauty, describing it variously as the Switzerland of Africa and the Pearl of Africa. Rwanda has also been referred to as the Land of a Thousand Hills and the Land of Gorillas. The spectacular volcanoes, mountains, and natural resources are significant assets. The nation been dominated by two colonial powers, the Germans and Belgians. In spite of these political upheavals and acts of ethnic violence, Rwanda remains a country with rich culture and customs.

Readers will learn that living together in harmony has been part of the Rwandan society, with its few ethnic groups, and traditional values supported a culture of peace. The traditionally pastoral and agricultural society is overviewed. The chapter on religion includes discussion of polytheism to Christianity. Other chapters cover the strong family and women's roles, the arts and oral cultures, celebrations, food, and dress.

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent source of information
An excellent source of information on a complex society. This entire series of books are outstanding. The book arrived on time and in perfect condition. ... Read more

Product Description
Observing the Rwandan cultural practice of gusimbuka, widely described as Tutsi high jumping, Europeans discerned a natural ability to jump and predicted that Tutsi would dominate world sports-or so the story goes. And, as John Bale makes clear in this book, it is just that-a story, a Western representation that recast cultural practice as competitive sport and made of the Tutsi high jumper an "imaginary athlete." Bale explores the colonial representation of gusimbuka, revealing the Tutsi sportsman and prospective Olympian as an invention with broad implications for understanding the workings of the Western gaze.

In written accounts and photographs, many published here for the first time, Bale uncovers a bewildering variety of images-evidence of the equivocal nature of the Western view of Rwandan body culture. Through a consideration of different, often conflicting rhetorical modes, Bale shows how these images were deployed to increase the cultural and political distance between Tutsi and Hutu, and to bring the Tutsi closer to the European. An intriguing and sobering case study, Imagined Olympians provides valuable insight into how the West both idealizes and vilifies the non-Western body.

John Bale is visiting professor of sports studies at Aarhus University, Denmark, and professor of sports geography at Keele University, U.K. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from African Studies Quarterly, published by Center for African Studies on June 22, 2010. The length of the article is 779 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Julius O. Adekunle. Culture and Customs of Rwanda.(Book review)
Author: Uchendu Eugene Chigbu
Publication: African Studies Quarterly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Center for African Studies
Volume: 11Issue: 4Page: 117(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from History Behind the Headlines, Vols. 1-6, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 7396 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Presents in-depth information on conflicts appearing in today's headlines. Users are provided with historical background and analysis to events to give a greater understanding of the politics, players, and layers of current affairs. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Catholic New Times, published by Catholic New Times, Inc. on January 30, 2005. The length of the article is 810 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Hotel Rwanda vacant of 'realism'.(Arts & Culture)(Movie Review)
Author: Patrick Donohue
Publication: Catholic New Times (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 30, 2005
Publisher: Catholic New Times, Inc.
Volume: 29Issue: 2Page: 17(1)

Article Type: Movie Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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The official companion book, edited by director Terry George, including essays on the history of the genocide, the complete screenplay written by Keir Pearson & Terry George, and more than 70 photographs.

A Story That Had to Be Told: In 1994, as his country descended into madness, Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager of a Belgian-owned luxury hotel in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, used cunning and courage to save 1,268 people from certain death while the rest of the world closed its eyes. His real-life story inspired the Oscar®-nominated writer of In the Name of the Father, Terry George, to make the extraordinary film, Hotel Rwanda, starring Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix, and Nick Nolte, which has received accolades from critics and moviegoers alike, winning numerous awards.

Now, in the only official companion book, comes the fascinating filmmaking story, with first-person pieces by Terry George and co-screenwriter Keir Pearson about their three-year struggle to gain support and financing, as well as a brief history of Rwanda with details on the actual events portrayed in the movie.

Illustrated with more than 70 historical and contemporary photos and movie stills, the book also includes journalist Nicola Graydon's report on joining Paul Rusesabagina when he first returned to Rwanda on the tenth anniversary of the genocide; writer Anne Thompson's personal journal of her visit to the set in Africa during production in February 2004; and a compelling transcript of the PBS Frontline documentary revealing the afterthoughts of officials who chose not to listen to the cries for help. In addition there is a timeline of the crisis, a further reading and viewing list, and the complete screenplay.

"Hotel Rwanda is the most powerful film of its kind since Schindler's List.... Like Oskar Schindler, Don Cheadle's Paul is a politically uninvolved man who becomes a very unlikely hero....This is an important story told with respect and care, and though the subject matter once again is very grave, very serious, this is also one of the most inspirational movies I've ever seen."—Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper Report

"Courage, Winston Churchill once said, is the virtue that makes all other virtues possible. Hotel Rwanda reminds us of that with dramatic force and compelling poignancy."—Richard Schickel, Time ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Paul missed something significant.
I recently watched "Hotel Rwanda" on DVD.Next, I got a copy of the book.It's a powerful true-life story, but it lacks something.For one thing, it lacks what one Amazon reviewer described as a comprehension of what would "make people go out and massacre their neighbors with machetes."There's a powerful presence of evil in this true-life story, an evil that inspired hundreds of thousands of people to murder hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children.Surely, it would take more than radio messages of a madman to incite so many people to commit so many murders.

I had previously heard predictions of a massacre in Rwanda years before it happened.The mother of Christ was reported to have appeared to six girls and one boy in Rwanda starting in late 1983.In 1991, Ernest Rutaganda, one of the visionaries, was told through a vision that there would be a massacre of Tutsit and that President Habyarimana would be killed by his friends.This was two years before the event, but the other earlier predictions have been publicized ten years before the event.

I know the press is very skeptical of apparitions, but wouldn't you think that someone who lived through the massacre and wanted to tell the world about it would realize that mentioning the predictions would have added greater depth to the story?The predictions and their subsequent fulfillment would have alerted people of all races and all nations that these warnings (at Rwanda and similar warnings at Medjudgorje, Cuapa, Akiba, Fatima, Garabandal, and others-all available on the Internet) are meant for all of us.There is an evil presence in the world, a spiritual presence that is fully capable of influencing millions of people simultaneously.

In 1990, Ernest Rutaganda was imprisoned in Kigali for holding prayer meetings in his home.One wonders how Paul Rusesabagina, who lived and worked in the same city, would not have heard of these predictions.It can easily argued that these messages came from the God who created all of us, warning us that we must resist temptation or worse temptations would follow.If Paul Rusesabagina had mentioned them, his story would have captured the interest of all people.After all, even if the predictions had not been believed beforehand, they ultimately came true.Paul Rusesabagina was an eyewitness.He could have pointed out that it doesn't matter what race we belong to or what country we live in, we are all in this life together.We all face the same perils.

Instead, the movie politicized the abandonment of Rwanda on white/black racial issues.I think this was a big mistake, probably the main reason why the movie came out of the theaters so quickly.When the United Nations commander explained to Paul why the United Nations only evacuated Westerners, he told Paul, by way of explanation: "You're black!You're not even a nigger, You're African."This explanation didn't ring right in my ears.I'm sure the United Nations had other reasons for choosing as they did.I think the crisis in Rwanda was far more complicated than white prejudice against blacks.

I sympathize with the Amazon reviewer Marco from Kigali who lost his family in the massacre and was bitter toward Paul Rusesabagina.He has every right to be bitter because the loss of a family is a terrible tragedy.If Marco can believe that there is only one God over all of us, he could take comfort knowing that his loved ones suffered just like Jesus did: at the hands of sinners.They suffered for exactly the same reason that Jesus did: that sinners might have time to realize what they are doing and repent.His family's martyrdom makes them special to God.They suffered with Christ so that God need not immediately punish people intent on sinning before they can inflict suffering on someone else.If God were to immediately punish everyone intent on sinning, none ofus would have a chance to reflect and repent (and find salvation).No one has greater honor with God than the victims of other person's sins, which honor lasts for all eternity.

I think Paul Rusesabagina did everything he could to save as many people as possible without risking those he already harbored.Paul should be commended for what he did when so many other people let themselves be incited to murder.But when Paul wrote about the horrors of the massacre, he could have touched more people if he mentioned the predictions.His book might have answered deeper questions, had a wider audience, and put a more understandable perspective on the massacre.

Reference:Ernest Rutaganda, Google search "Rwanda Blessed Virgin."

Over 70 photos and movie stills capture the film's history
In 1994 as his country was experiencing insanity, hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina used wits and courage to save over a thousand people from certain death. His life story was captured in the film "Hotel Rwanda", and this movie companion, Hotel Rwanda: Bringing The True Story Of An African Hero To Film, documents the film's story, providing first-person pieces by Terry George and co-writer Keir Pearson from their struggle to gain financing and produce the film. Over 70 photos and movie stills capture the film's history, production challenges, and drama.

The companion book to a very powerful movie
"Hotel Rwanda" is a great movie.It tells us plenty about what happened in Rwanda in 1994, a year in which ten percent of the nation's population died, including most of the minority Tutsi population.Most were slaughtered by the majority Hutus, with machetes.

This book has an appendix that includes the entire screenplay of the movie.And it has a very interesting transcript of a PBS show about the genocide called "The Triumph of Evil."In addition, it discusses the making of the movie.

I've never been in Rwanda, so let me say what questions I had that I hoped this book (and the movie) might shed some light on:

1)Fear.I think the movie is excellent at showing the constant fear on the part of the Tutsis.But what about the killers?Were they scared?I couldn't tell.It was awfully difficult for me to comprehend what would make people go out and massacre their neighbors with machetes.

2)Betrayal.The movie does explain that it would have taken relatively little effort for outside troops to stop the slaughter.And it shows some of the politics that appear to have prevented this.But betrayal was not only by the United Nations, France, and a variety of other Western nations.There was also betrayal by the Catholic church, given that most of the killers and most of the victims were Catholics.We don't see much of that.But the book tells us that many Tutsis tried to seek refuge in the churches only to be killed in them.

3)Ugliness.I was curious about appearances in such times.Some folks say that people who are perceived to be ugly, grubby, impoverished, or disheveled are easier to see as dehumanized, putting them at greater risk in slaughters.And we see a hint of this in the movie, when Paul Rusesabagina says "this is not a refugee camp.The Interahamwe believe that the Mille Collines is a four star Sabena hotel.That is the only thing that is keeping us alive."

I agree that the question of just which people were allowed into the Mille Collines is interesting. It was a matter of life and death for most of them.But I don't think this is critical to the story.

One last point.The book makes it clear that one of the biggest differences between the movie and real life is the blood.Considering that hundreds of thousands of people were killed with machetes, I can believe that.And I'm glad that the movie left out some of the realism here.

I know that many people will be suspicious of a book and movie about such a political issue.But this movie and book got me to look more deeply into the history of what did happen in Rwanda.I think it is worth recommending on that basis alone.

Amazing!
I cried from beginning to end. This incredible movie makes you feel as if you are actually in the middle of the violence. You are absolutely terrified and helpless the entire time, and your heart absolutely shatters into a million pieces as you watch the injustice of genocide made very real and very personal. This movie will change your life.

Rubbish
I don't know which category to put this book/movie into.
It certainly does not reflect a really life story and has little fiction character.
It does nothing to justify the genocide all it does is forming endless monologue of blame mainly to the West.
Koffi A is not a westerner and nothing is said about him.
As a survivor of 94 I find it insulting to me and the memory of my beloved late family.
Shame on Paul for even aggreeing to be portrayed in this light. it does definitely says why during that time only those who could afford it were allowed in the Hotel doors contrary to what is portrayed in the story. he definitely applied the rule "WERE ALL NOT EQUAL"


Absolute rubbish, good acting though ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Countries and Their Cultures, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 2602 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Covers the broad range of popular religious culture of the United States at the close of the twentieth century. Beliefs, practices, symbols, traditions, movements, organizations, and leaders from the many traditions in the pluralistic American community are represented. Also includes cults and phenomena that drew followers, such as Heaven's Gale and UFOs. ... Read more

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Chapters: Languages of Rwanda, National Symbols of Rwanda, Orders, Decorations, and Medals of Rwanda, Religion in Rwanda, Rwandan Cuisine, Rwandan Literature, Rwandan Media, Rwandan Music, Sport in Rwanda, Tourism in Rwanda, English Language, Bahá'í Faith in Rwanda, Rwanda Language, Rwanda Nziza, Banana Beer, Ugali, Rwanda Rwacu, Music of Rwanda, Royal Order of the Intare, Flag of Rwanda, Literature of Rwanda, Matoke, Rugby Union in Rwanda, Rwanda Women's National Rugby Union Team, Coat of Arms of Rwanda, Rwanda at the Olympics, Kanguka, Roman Catholicism in Rwanda, King Kigeli V Foundation, Umuduri, Public Holidays in Rwanda, Imigongo. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 98. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:English is a West Germanic language that arose in England and south-eastern Scotland in the time of the Anglo-Saxons. Following the economic, political, military, scientific, cultural, and colonial influence of Great Britain and the United Kingdom from the 18th century, and of the United States since the mid 20th century, it has been widely dispersed around the world, become the leading language of international discourse, and has acquired use as lingua franca in many regions. It is widely learned as a second language and used as an official language of the European Union and many Commonwealth countries, as well as in many world organisations. Historically, English originated from several dialects, now collectively termed Old English, which were brought to the eastern coast of the island of Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers beginning in the 5th century. English was further influenced by the Old Norse language of Viking invaders. After the time of the Norman conquest, Old English developed into Middle English, borrowing heavily from the Norman-French vocabulary and spelling c...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=8569916 ... Read more

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"A remarkable life story, reminiscent of Out ofAfrica."--Vogue

In 1949, Rosamond Halsey Carr, a youngfashion illustrator living in New York City, accompanied her dashinghunter-explorer husband to what was then the Belgian Congo. When themarriage fell apart, she decided to stay on in neighboring Rwanda, asthe manager of a flower plantation.

Land of a Thousand Hillsis Carr's thrilling memoir of her life in Rwanda-a love affair with acountry and a people that has spanned half a century. During thoseyears, she has experienced everything from stalking leopards torampaging elephants, drought, the mysterious murder of her friend DianFossey, and near-bankruptcy. She has chugged up the Congo River on apaddle-wheel steamboat, been serenaded by pygmies, and witnessedfirsthand the collapse of colonialism. Following 1994's Hutu-Tutsigenocide, Carr turned her plantation into a shelter for the lost andorphaned children-work she continues to this day, at the age ofeighty-seven.

"Carr's book is a testament to the courage,perseverance, and resilience of the land to which she has given herheart."--San Francisco ExaminerAmazon.com Review
If you enjoyed Out of Africa and West with theNight, here's another amazing woman's story of her adventurous Africanlife. Rosamond Halsey Carr left her job as a young New York City fashionillustrator in the 1940s to join her hunter-explorer husband in the BelgianCongo; after their divorce, she decided to stay on in neighboring Rwandaas the manager of a flower plantation. For the next 50 years she lived anextraordinary life, witnessing the fall of colonialism, the loss of herfriend Dian Fossey, and the relentless clashes between the Hutus and theTutsis. Although this book includes a poignant insider's account of theevents surrounding the horrific 1994 genocide, it also provides abeautiful portrait of the Rwanda that was--and still is. After beingevacuated during the genocide, Carr returned to Rwanda and, at age 82, rebuilther home from the ground up, intent on opening a home for some 100 orphanedchildren.

Carr's humble tenacity and bold strength animate her historical,cultural, and personal accounts. Arriving in Africa in 1949, shewitnesses the traditions of the royal Tutsi dynasty, sails up the Congoto camp in pygmy villages, encounters leopards, mingles with Europeanaristocrats, finds and loses love, and lives through Congo independence andcivil war. Her passion for the country and its people makes for a lifestory that is both tragic and hopeful, and full of interesting detailsthat animate the spirit of Rwanda. --Kathryn True ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Wonderful Story of a Wonderful Nation
The account of Roz Carr's life in Rwanda gives a wonderful picture and account of life in this beautiful nation.It provides a practical history of Rwanda for the past 50 years without glossing over the tragedies of romanticizing the life.It offers a wonderful view into the life and relationships that make this nation so reziliant and beautiful.Great read.You have a chance to see the people of Rwanda as they are, smiling and loving.

The story of a "winner" at heart
I spent four years in Rwanda, at Mudende, less than 1/2 a mile down the road from where Roz Carr lived.My wife and I got to know her quite well.This book brought back a lot of memories.She was as good a hostess as she is a story teller.Her love of the country and its people truly come through in this book.She also paints a vivid picture of life there.I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read about winners and survivors.

Fascinating read
A fascinating read and historical insight into Rwanda and it's neighbours. Ros Carr's fortitude and life described in the book was truly inspiring. To start up an orphanage in one's 80's is amazing. If visiting Rwanda a visit to her loved home and orphanage 'Mugongo' makes this book come alive. Great to see her good work continuing since her passing.

Good Read
I chose this book to learn more about Rwanda and it'shistory. I learned alot in addition to the account of the author's life there. Even though we hear negatives about many places- it was nice to see both sides for a change. I think the more we learn about other countries and their history a better understanding we will have of the people.

I plan to do more reading in this area.

"After all, dear," she wrote, "this is a bit much."
Land of A Thousand Hills is an autobiography by Rosamond Halsey Carr. She lived in Rwanda from 1949 until her death in 2006. Originally the owner of a flower plantation, she went on at 82 to open an orphanage for children left parentless during the Hutu-Tutsi genocide.

I had higher hopes for this book. Which isn't to say that Land of a Thousand Hills is a bad book. It isn't. It is certainly interesting biographically. Carr was a fascinating woman. The sheer strength of her decision to stay in Africa after the collapse of her marriage in order to run a flower plantation on her own is really impressive-- more so considering the time. At 82, I hope that I'm the kind of woman who will return to a war zone to start an orphanage. It was also fascinating to read her stories about Dian Fossey. Carr certainly knew some very interesting people.

I suppose that I was mostly disappointed because I expected it to say more about Rwanda as a country. Given her obvious personal strength, I expected her to be a more unbiased observer. She clearly was not that, and to her credit I guess that she never pretended to be. I didn't feel as though I learned much about the politics of the time that she lived through. Worse, I didn't really feel that I trusted much of what I did learn.

One exception to this is that so few people are willing to write about the Tutsi at all critically, following the genocide. Carr actually builds a hesitant case for the defense without excusing Huti excesses, something that probably took a fair amount of personal courage. That was interesting.

The book is not terribly well written, although the prose is generally clean. They may have done better to have it co-written by someone with better credentials than being a relative of the primary author.

If you have some time to spare, and are interested in the fading days of European empire in Africa, you may well find this a good use of time. But walk, don't run, to the book store. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Apr Fc Players, Airlines of Rwanda, Airports in Rwanda, Basketball in Rwanda, Christianity in Rwanda, Cricket in Rwanda, Cyangugu, Defunct Airlines of Rwanda, Expatriate Footballers in Rwanda, Football Competitions in Rwanda, Football in Rwanda, Football Venues in Rwanda, Goma, Hotels in Rwanda, Islam in Rwanda, Lake Kivu, Lakes of Rwanda, Languages of Rwanda, National Parks of Rwanda, National Symbols of Rwanda, Olympic Athletes of Rwanda, Olympic Swimmers of Rwanda, Orders, Decorations, and Medals of Rwanda, Paralympic Athletes of Rwanda, Paralympic Bronze Medalists for Rwanda, Radio Stations in Rwanda, Religion in Rwanda, Roman Catholic Dioceses in Rwanda, Rugby Union in Rwanda, Rwanda at the Olympics, Rwanda at the Paralympics, Rwanda in International Cricket, Rwanda International Footballers, Rwandan Christian Pacifists, Rwandan Muslims, Rwandan Roman Catholic Priests, Rwandan Roman Catholics, Rwandan Seventh-Day Adventists, Rwandan Athletes, Rwandan Basketball Players, Rwandan Cuisine, Rwandan Football Clubs, Rwandan Footballers, Rwandan Literature, Rwandan Media, Rwandan Music, Rwandan Singers, Rwandan Sportspeople, Rwandan Swimmers, Settlements on Lake Kivu, Sport in Rwanda, Tennis in Rwanda, Tourism in Rwanda, English Language, Bahá'í Faith in Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina, Lake Muhazi, Bukavu, Mount Nyiragongo, Simon Bikindi, Corneille, Kigeli V of Rwanda, Rwanda National Football Team, Radio Télévision Libre Des Mille Collines, Rwanda Language, Volcanoes National Park, Rwandair, Gisenyi, Air Rwanda, Church of the Province of Rwanda, Kigali International Airport, Jean-Paul Samputu, 2008 Lake Kivu Earthquake, Kibuye, Vincent Nsengiyumva, Sake, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Adrien Niyonshuti, Mount Nyamuragira, Rwandan Premier League, Rwanda Nziza, Désiré Mbonabucya, Ath... ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Not bad, but there's better
The book was a tough read, that you couldn't speed through to totally comprehend. I did like the detail of the book, but there seemed to be alot that could have been cut out due to irrelevance.
Overall though, I would recommend reading the book if you want to get a grasp on the history behind the terrible Rwandan genocide.

Fascinating, But Difficult to Read
The information in this book is extremely important.I also appreciated the historical context given by the author.Those things said, I was disappointed in the textbook nature of the book.This was, unnecessarily I believe, an extremely difficult read.There were scores of English words I've never seen before.This, in addition to French and Kinyarwanda.I was also disappointed that the historical context was not presented more clearly.

Riviting...
A gripping, personal account of growing up in Rwanda and the Rwandan genocide.Ms. Mushikiwabo's memories are at turns heartbreaking and charming, her country's history intriguing, and the statistics unfathomable ("State executioners and local volunteers...catching and dispatching more than three times as many people as al Qaeda did when it dropped the World Trade Center.That's not how many they killed altogether.That's how many they killed every day - ten thousand a day...for one hundred days.").Childhood stories bring Ms. Mushikiwabo and her family to life, making them your family, your friends.This is an engrossing read that starkly reminds us simultaneously of the cruelty of human nature and the spirit to survive unimaginable sorrow. ... Read more