Benjamin Sehene
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Sehene is a Rwanda
n author
whose work primarily focuses on questions of identity and the events surrounding the Rwandan genocide
. He has spent much of life in Canada
and France
.
Sehene was born in Kigali
to a Tutsi
family. His family fled Rwanda in 1963 for Uganda
, and he studied in Paris
at the Sorbonne
in the early 1980s, before emigrating to Canada
in 1984. He currently lives in Paris
. He is a member of International PEN
.
In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide
, Sehene returned to Rwanda, hoping to better understand what had happened. He subsequently wrote Le Piège ethnique (The Ethnic Trap) (1999), a study of ethnic polemics, and Le Feu sous la soutane (Fire under the Cassock) (2005), an historical novel focusing on the true story of a Hutu
Catholic priest, Father Stanislas, who offered protection to Tutsi refugees in his church before sexually exploiting the women and participating in massacres.Sehene also contributes articles to the online newspaper rue89
France, 2006 ISBN 2-911412-40-0
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
whose work primarily focuses on questions of identity and the events surrounding the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
. He has spent much of life in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Sehene was born in Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
to a Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
family. His family fled Rwanda in 1963 for Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and he studied in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in the early 1980s, before emigrating to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1984. He currently lives in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He is a member of International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
.
In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, Sehene returned to Rwanda, hoping to better understand what had happened. He subsequently wrote Le Piège ethnique (The Ethnic Trap) (1999), a study of ethnic polemics, and Le Feu sous la soutane (Fire under the Cassock) (2005), an historical novel focusing on the true story of a Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
Catholic priest, Father Stanislas, who offered protection to Tutsi refugees in his church before sexually exploiting the women and participating in massacres.Sehene also contributes articles to the online newspaper rue89
Publications
- Le Piège Ethnique(The Ethnic Trap)] Dagorno, Paris, (1999) ISBN 2-910019-54-3
- Rwanda's collective amnesia, in The UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Courier, (1999). - Un sentiment d'insécurité, PlayPlay (theatre)A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 2001 - "Dead Girl Walking" (short story)
- Le Feu sous la soutane (Fire under the Cassock), L'Esprit FrappeurL'Esprit frappeurL'Esprit frappeur , is a French publishing house, specialized in low-cost books. Before the change to euros, it used to sell its books for 10 or 20 Francs; they now cost between 2,5 euros and 5 euros...
, Paris (2005) ISBN 2-84405-222-3 - "Ta Race!" (Short story), Éditions Vents d'Ailleurs, [La Roque d'Anthéron],
France, 2006 ISBN 2-911412-40-0
- Di ethnische Falle http://www.wespennest.at/w_zeitschrift.php?id=MTQz WespennestWespennestThe quarterly magazine Wespennest publishes texts and images by internationally renowned authors and artists as well as new literary talents...
2006