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The Documentary Podcast

Befriending the man who killed my family

5/8/202627 min

Thirty years after the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, some convicted perpetrators are returning to the communities they once devastated. Felin Gakwaya travels to eastern Rwanda to meet both survivors and perpetrators living side by side again. He hears from Daniel Gasangwa, who went to visit the men who killed members of his family after they were released from prison — and told them not to be afraid, because they had been forgiven. He also meets Steven Ngabonziza, whose own path to forgiveness came not first through church, but through war, prison discipline and the slow work of reconciliation. And he hears from Viateur Ruribikiye, a perpetrator who now speaks of confession, repentance and God’s pardon. Through their stories, which include discussions of violence and loss, the programme explores forgiveness not as an abstract idea, but as something lived out in villages, churches, homes and memories that have not gone away. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Heart and Soul, exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

Clips

Showing 10 of 11
Visiting The Men Who Killed
Friends With A Perpetrator
Choosing Forgiveness Publicly
Forgiven By The Victim’s Son
Confession In Daylight
Learning Not To Take Revenge
A Guard Who Helped A Killer
Forgiveness As Daily Practice
Guarding Those Who Killed Family
Forgiveness Without The Church

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 00:00

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  2. Speaker 10:34

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  3. Felin Gakwaya· Host1:04

    [electronic sound effect] This program contains discussions of violence and loss, which some listeners may find upsetting.

  4. Daniel Gasangwa· Guest1:13

    [dramatic music] Definitely. They are the ones who killed my family.

  5. Felin Gakwaya· Host1:18

    Among the recently released prisoners, how many perpetrators did you recognize?

  6. Daniel Gasangwa· Guest1:24

    I recognized four.

  7. Felin Gakwaya· Host1:25

    In Rwanda, some men convicted over the genocide

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