"One of the difficulties about interviewing people in Rwanda is that the country is trying to get on with ordinary life and some people just don't want to get involved in this"

When engaging with individuals in Rwanda, journalists and outsiders often face challenges rooted in the nation's determination to rebuild and return to a sense of normalcy after a traumatic past. The everyday life in Rwanda is colored by efforts to move forward, heal, and normalize routines disrupted by tragedy. Many citizens focus on restoring community, economic growth, and stability, aiming to distance themselves from the legacy of violence and upheaval that once defined the country’s narrative on the global stage.

Amid such efforts, conversations with outside observers, particularly those who wish to revisit the past or examine deep-seated wounds, may not always be welcomed. Speaking with outsiders risks reopening emotional scars or invites judgment and scrutiny from beyond Rwanda’s borders, which some may find unhelpful or invasive. For many, actively choosing disengagement from media or researchers is a form of self-preservation: a way to guard personal healing or shield families from reliving pain. There may also be fatigue from the repetition of the same questions, or a feeling that revisiting traumatic memories impedes progress.

Another layer to this dynamic is societal pressure toward unity and reconciliation. Rwanda's government and civil society encourage narratives that foster peace and collective recovery, making some people reluctant to discuss divisive or controversial topics. There can be apprehension about saying the "wrong" thing, or fear of repercussions if public discourse is perceived as threatening to national cohesion efforts.

Ultimately, engaging with Rwandans requires sensitivity to these realities. Seeking participation in interviews or stories is not just a logistical challenge but an ethical one, necessitating respect for individual boundaries and acknowledgment of collective priorities. The desire of many Rwandans to focus on ordinary life represents a conscious, sometimes hard-won, choice to emphasize present and future possibilities over the shadows of the past.