Genocide and Gazelles

While cycling through Austin, Texas on the Bike for Burundi tour, I met a Burundian named Gilbert who came to the USA as a political refugee. I learned that he was an accomplished runner who had survived a terrible attack during the genocide in Burundi in 1993. He now heads up a running club called "Gilbert's Gazelles" (www.GilbertsGazelles.com), and a non profit which raises money for wells in Burundi, called "The Gazelle Foundation" (www.Gazellefoundation.com). Some people involved with the Gazelle Foundation actually made a trip out here to Burundi last month.

This past weekend I read Gilbert's incredibly emotional memoir called This Voice in My Heart: A Runner's Memoir of Genocide, Faith, and Forgiveness. The story is absolutely amazing, and it shares not only his experience with genocide, but it also tells about his entire life and the culture of Burundi.

The back of the book says "This Voice in My Heart is the searing story of Gilbert Tuhabonye, a survivor of one of the most devastating genocides in recent memory. Though now a track star and motivationnal speaker, Gilbert once lay buried under a pile of burning bodies after the centuries-old battle between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes came to his school. Fueled by hatred, the Hutus forced more than a hundred Tutsi children and teachers into a small room and used machetes to slash most of them to death. The ones who survived the attack were doused with gasoline and set on fire. After hiding under burning bodies for more than eight hours, Gilbert heard a voice inside saying, "You will be all right; you will survive." He knew it was God speaking to him. Gilbert was the only survivor at his school. This riveting story will touch you from its first page and offer inspiration for years to come."

I highly recommend the read.

Also, here is a video of Gilbert presenting at TED Austin.

ps- Burundi is not anymore dangerous like it was during the war. People from the USA are still afraid to come here because of US State Department warnings. My opinion is that if the State Department thinks it's necessary to tell US citizens to not travel to Burundi, they should also put out warnings against Americans traveling to places like Washington, DC, Baltimore, and even "quaint" little Annapolis. For instance, my car, which is currently in "peaceful" Annapolis, had it's side window smashed by a thief a few nights ago. Luckily, I have no valuables so nothing was stolen.

So feel free to come visit Burundi! It's pretty great.