Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre, Genocide memorial in Nyamata, Rwanda
The Nyamata Genocide Memorial Centre is a memorial for the genocide of the Tutsi in Nyamata, Eastern Province, Rwanda. The grounds include the former church building, underground crypts, and exhibition spaces containing personal belongings of victims.
The building originally served as a Catholic church before becoming the site of mass killings in April 1994. After the genocide, the Rwandan government transformed the church into a memorial to preserve the memory of victims.
The center preserves personal items and clothing of the deceased, displayed on simple shelves along the walls. Visitors walk through the rooms in silence while guides share names and stories of individual families whose lives ended here.
Guided tours start at the entrance and lead through the church, exhibition rooms, and burial sites at the back of the grounds. Visitors should wear respectful clothing and prepare for emotionally difficult moments during the walk.
UNESCO declared the site a World Heritage location in 2023 as part of a group of four genocide memorials in Rwanda. The church was intentionally left unaltered after the events, with bullet holes and grenade damage still visible on walls and roof.
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