International Women's Conference participants visited the King's Museum and the Nyanza Genocide Memorial

During the trip they made on Friday the 28th, on the third day of the meeting, which was also the last day of the meeting, they went to Nyanza in the Nyanza district (former Butare), where they were shown the Rwandan history, including the King's Museum, The Palace of the King, showing the King's activities including how the King entertained, how they served alcohol, how they welcomed guests, grinding at the mill, informed on the history of the Kings of Rwanda including how they expanded Rwanda and so on.

One of the surprises they got was how King Mutara III Rudahigwa was the first King to own a car, he owned a Volkswagen; even the fact that he (The King) never had children which may have been caused by the colonists.

After leaving Rukari, they visited the Nyanza Genocide Memorial, where they be informed about the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in April 1994.

You could see that they were not aware of the news about the Genocide against the Tutsis, so they were very surprised and could not understand how and why it happened. They prayed God to help people so that the Genocide would not happen again.

Abolaji Odunuga, one of the organizers, who led the team, said that it was a great experience because on the way (to Nyanza) they were shown the beauty of Rwanda, they saw rivers, they saw how Rwanda no longer uses plastic, how Rwanda is "Green" and so on.

They learned grinding while singing

"…we saw the farmers, we saw the wood was good, and at the Museum we were able to learn a lot about the King, and the highlight of it for me was the King that was vaccinated so that he wouldn’t have a son, it was an highlight for me,…"

They enjoyed taking pictures with cows

They were so happy to see the cows, they even took pictures of them. Speaking about it she said: “We saw the cow, we danced with the cow, we didn't kiss the cow though we were scared (laughs),...we took pictures, we danced, it was very very interesting, it’s nice to learn new culture. We went into the King’s Palace…”

Abolaji Odunuga, one of Organizers of the International Women’s Conference

Even though it was a great experience dancing, laughing and taking pictures with cows, they also had to learn about the worst and horrific bad thing that ever happened to Rwanda, Genocide Against Tutsi. 

"… moving forward, yes we go to the Genocide Memorial, for me I was a little bit emotional, I couldn’t really go in because when I saw the caskets… they were questions that we were asking which was, how could you forgive? I mean I don’t know how you moved pass such. It’s difficult isn’t it? And the tour guide showed us the rings, the pictures, the clothes that were torn over there, it was a lot to take in. And to be honest with you, it makes us, we Nigerians to start thinking about what we have,…” 

Mr. Olayinka Odeajo, one of the organizers of the Conference, was surprised and angered by the history of genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994, he says that he will speak about it;

Mister Olayinka Odeajo, the Co-organizer of the International Women’s Conference

"... The things we don't know (about Rwanda) we now know now, because we visited the King's Palace, and visited the Memorial Site, so I think it was emotional…  something I want to write about…”

They learned about Genocide Against Tutsi

After leaving Nyanza, they continued to Century Park for the official closing of this International Women's Conference.

They paid respect to the victims of Genocide against the Tutsi