Basketball fraternity draws lessons from Rwanda Genocide

KIGALI (FIBA Africa U18 Championship 2016) - The 11 participating teams at the FIBA Africa U18 Championship 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda on Thursday visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site in Gisozi to pay their respects to the more than one million victims of the 1994 Genocide.

During the visit, the players and coaching staff were introduced to the history of Rwanda, from the colonial days to independence and what caused the atrocious killing of innocent lives. They were also given an insight into the effects of the mass slaughter as well as the rebuilding and renewing of the Rwandan people, whose resilience has seen the land of a thousand hills recover to become a leading nation on so many fronts.

A number of teams taking part in the championship are from countries that can relate to a history of civil unrest and it is against this backdrop therefore that they picked up crucial lessons from the trip to the Museum that stands as a remembrance.

Angolan Basketball Federation President Paulo Madeira said: "For us Angolan people it is very important because recently we had civil wars in our country. It is important to visit and see projects like this and to grow the culture of peace."

Just like Rwanda, there was a long stretch of civil unrest in Angola stretching over four decades until 2002. As such, a focus on rebuilding through peace has also been a part of the country's priorities.

"We have the opportunity to understand more about the importance of peace," Madeira added. "Rwanda is on the right path to reconciliation. It is important in basketball because we promote the culture of fair play. Our players are young so these values are good for them for the future."

Ugandan captain Mathew Samuel Ochieng explained that the visit shed more light on the importance of learning to live together as one despite differences in way of life. 

"We learnt about Rwanda's history at school but visiting the Genocide Memorial has opened our eyes to the events that happened in 1994," he said. "Now we know the full extent of genocide and we have learnt that it is important to be tolerant of one another."

Over one million lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide.

FIBA