Dignity in Death and Life: Negotiating Agaciro for the Nation in Preservation Practice at Nyamata Genocide Memorial, Rwanda

A study of the Nyamata Genocide Memorial in Rwanda reveals that the concept of 'agaciro' or dignity, central to Rwandan nation-building, is both a powerful material practice and an uncertain principle. The research examines how preservation efforts at the memorial reflect the state's commitment to dignifying genocide victims' remains, which is intricately linked to restoring dignity for living Rwandans and shaping national identity. Through an analysis of a joint Rwandan-American preservation initiative, the study traces historical and contemporary manifestations of this complex relationship, highlighting its implications for the post-genocide nation's engagement with its defining moment.

Bolin, A. (2019). Dignity in Death and Life: Negotiating Agaciro for the Nation in Preservation Practice at Nyamata Genocide Memorial, Rwanda. Anthropological Quarterly, 92(2), 345–374. https://doi.org/10.1353/anq.2019.0018