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Blood Bonds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda

  • Every war, every genocide, eventually comes to an end. Survivors, bereaved families, perpetrators, and bystanders are left to pick up the pieces and try to live together again. But how do you do that when mutual distrust still smolders and fear and hatred continue to linger? It requires a healing process that often takes years—sometimes even generations.
  • In Rwanda, that process has been ongoing since shortly after the 1994 genocide. The Rwandan genocide stands out for the sheer intensity of its violence: in just one hundred days, between 800,000 and one million people were killed—a higher daily death toll than during the Holocaust. It is also unique in the intimacy of its brutality: neighbors and acquaintances killed one another using simple weapons like machetes, axes, and clubs—tools that required close physical proximity.
  • The victims were primarily Tutsis, but also moderate Hutus. Radical propaganda portrayed them as two distinct ethnicities, though the roots of the conflict lay more in a historical divide between cattle herders and farmers. Survivors bear deep emotional and physical scars, while many perpetrators grapple with guilt and social exclusion—often after serving long prison sentences. Yet both groups have had to continue living in the same communities, sometimes even as next-door neighbors—seemingly a recipe for renewed violence and bloodshed. Since 2005, more than 115,000 survivors and perpetrators have participated in sociotherapy groups, in which former perpetrators often express remorse and ask for forgiveness. Many reveal the locations of victims' graves, allowing them to finally receive a dignified burial. In numerous cases, former enemies have become friends and now support one another. Rwanda demonstrates that even in the most divided societies, healing is possible.

Book

For a month, Dutch photographer Jan Banning and writer Dick Wittenberg traveled through the Rwandan countryside. Deliberately avoiding the government-established “reconciliation villages,” they sought out spontaneous, grassroots examples of reconciliation.

In July 2025, their book Blood Bonds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda will be published in both English and Dutch by Dutch publisher Lecturis. In the book, Banning and Wittenberg portray, in image and word, improbable pairs—people who managed to leave their burning hatred behind and reconcile with the murderers of their loved ones. Today, they live together as good neighbors, friends, even family. Together, they make the unimaginable possible.

Text: Dick Wittenberg

(To pre-order the book: www.janbanning.com/books).

Awards for Blood Bonds

* 2025 LensCulture Portrait Awards, Series Winner, 2nd place.

* 2025 ZEKE Award for Systemic Change, First-Place.

* 2024 LensCulture Award, Critics’ Choice (Paolo Woods).

* 2024 International Photography Awards, ”Official Selection.”

* 2024 Aarize special award winner, 1st Place The Shape We’re In.

Liberatha lost three of her eleven children, including twins murdered by men who attacked her house at the start of the genocide. Her entire family was also killed. After the genocide, she (in her own words) was 'insane' and consumed by anger for years.
In a sociotherapy group, she met Alphonse Ranyemera, who served 15 years in prison. He was part of the group that killed her twins, apologized and asked for forgiveness.
Liberatha lost three of her eleven children, including twins murdered by men who attacked her house at the start of the genocide. Her entire family was also killed. After the genocide, she (in her own words) was 'insane' and consumed by anger for years.
In a sociotherapy group, she met Alphonse Ranyemera, who served 15 years in prison. He was part of the group that killed her twins, apologized and asked for forgiveness.
Rose lost her two eldest children and nearly her entire family during the genocide. Among the attackers was Ezechiel, who brutally killed her baby and sister-in-law, leaving Rose gravely injured. The scars on her right hand are a constant reminder of that horrifying day. In 2014, Rose joined CBS Rwanda’s sociotherapy group. During the sessions, Ezechiel expressed his deep remorse for taking her baby's life, and, over time, Rose found the strength to forgive him.
Rose lost her two eldest children and nearly her entire family during the genocide. Among the attackers was Ezechiel, who brutally killed her baby and sister-in-law, leaving Rose gravely injured. The scars on her right hand are a constant reminder of that horrifying day. In 2014, Rose joined CBS Rwanda’s sociotherapy group. During the sessions, Ezechiel expressed his deep remorse for taking her baby's life, and, over time, Rose found the strength to forgive him.
Epiphanie lost eight siblings, both parents, and nearly her own life in the genocide. On the first day of the killings, a mob including Jean Baptiste set fire to her grandmother’s house, where her family had sought refuge. At just six years old, she also survived a brutal attempt at rape. Years later, through a sociotherapy group, Epiphanie crossed paths with Jean Baptiste, who had served 12 years in prison for his crimes. After hearing his heartfelt apology, she found the strength to forgive, and they reconciled.
Epiphanie lost eight siblings, both parents, and nearly her own life in the genocide. On the first day of the killings, a mob including Jean Baptiste set fire to her grandmother’s house, where her family had sought refuge. At just six years old, she also survived a brutal attempt at rape. Years later, through a sociotherapy group, Epiphanie crossed paths with Jean Baptiste, who had served 12 years in prison for his crimes. After hearing his heartfelt apology, she found the strength to forgive, and they reconciled.
Solange struggled with shame and anxiety over her father's role in the murder of Elie's father—especially when she saw his face reflected in her own. Elie, once consumed by a desire for revenge against all Hutus, began to change after hearing Solange's story of guilt and fear. When her father also came forward to ask for forgiveness, Elie found the strength to reconcile with both him and Solange.
Solange struggled with shame and anxiety over her father's role in the murder of Elie's father—especially when she saw his face reflected in her own. Elie, once consumed by a desire for revenge against all Hutus, began to change after hearing Solange's story of guilt and fear. When her father also came forward to ask for forgiveness, Elie found the strength to reconcile with both him and Solange.
Celestin Kayijuka (left) lost four of his seven children and 17 relatives in the genocide. He bears many scars and a limp from a brutal attack while fleeing.
Jean Marie murdered Celestin's father, served 10 years in prison and confessed during a gacaca trial.
He later apologized personally to Celestin and his brothers, leading to reconciliation. "At parties, we now dance together," Celestin says.
Celestin Kayijuka (left) lost four of his seven children and 17 relatives in the genocide. He bears many scars and a limp from a brutal attack while fleeing.
Jean Marie murdered Celestin's father, served 10 years in prison and confessed during a gacaca trial.
He later apologized personally to Celestin and his brothers, leading to reconciliation. "At parties, we now dance together," Celestin says.
Rwanda, Gasabo district, 2024/02/08. Ancile Unabagira (57, right) lost her husband, parents, and two siblings during the genocide. She fled with her three young children, surviving with help from kind Hutus.
Ancile Nyiramimani (52), who betrayed four relatives of Unabagira's husband, later joined the same CBS Rwanda socio-therapy group. There, Unabagira learned of Nyiramimani's extreme poverty, including having barely any clothes and only banana leaves as a mattress. Moved by her story, the two embraced, finding reconciliation.
Rwanda, Gasabo district, 2024/02/08. Ancile Unabagira (57, right) lost her husband, parents, and two siblings during the genocide. She fled with her three young children, surviving with help from kind Hutus.
Ancile Nyiramimani (52), who betrayed four relatives of Unabagira's husband, later joined the same CBS Rwanda socio-therapy group. There, Unabagira learned of Nyiramimani's extreme poverty, including having barely any clothes and only banana leaves as a mattress. Moved by her story, the two embraced, finding reconciliation.
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