A Documentary Film in Progress

By Charles Ishimwe

The Banyamulenge tribe is a minority tribe in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are more than 250 tribes in Congo similar to the number of languages spoken in the DRC. Many of the Banyamulenge tribe has been murdered since the tribe moved to the Congo in the 1990’s. The minority Tutsis, who are Banyamulenge, immigrated from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda to the Congo. I have been dreaming to show the world about the tortures and killings that this tribe have experienced since I have learned what is going on in the Congo.

Considering my personal experience, the atrocities that the Tutsis’ tribes have suffered drive me to make my first documentary film about the Banyamulenge tribe who are always facing death for no specific reason.

The documentary that I am working on focuses on the major killings and massacres that have happened to this tribe. Tribe members have been killed in Gatumba, Burundi, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Bukavu and people are still being murdered today.

In 2012 I went to the Gatumba Memorial service in Washington DC where I had the opportunity to interview survivors and tribe leaders who lead the memorial service. These interviews are an integral part of telling this horrific story. Complimenting the 2012 footage will be 10 interviews of the survivors and different leaders of the Banyamulenge including people from the United Nations and other peacekeeping agencies. Photographs form international newspapers and background music from the survivors and artists who live in United States are also going to be used.

Some interviews will be done in the United States, Europe, Canada and Africa. I plan on conducting more interviews in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and with United Nations officials who are aware of these massacres. The interviewees who don’t speak English will use their local language as English and French subtitles will be used.

I would like to show the world what this tribe has been experiencing. I believe that once international organizations understand what atrocities the tribe is suffering, the international community will take the initiative to promote peace and justice in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This film is going to be used as a voice that can be heard around the world and speak on behalf of the survivors who cannot speak for themselves.

Hopefully, the film when completed will provide a sense of healing for those who have suffered the brutality of massacres, and draw public awareness to the ongoing plight of those still suffering in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, while promoting the spirit of reconciliation and peace in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. People who committed these massacres, such as Agathon Rwasa, must be brought to justice; he is a criminal, and this film is one of the ways to show the world that justice is needed for the Tutsis minority tribe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Charles is shooting his first interviews between November and December 2014 in Gatumba memorial House, Burundi in Central Africa. If you want to accompany Charles in his shootings in above countries mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact him.

If you want to support this project in any way, please feel free to contact Charles Ishimwe charlesishimwe@student.smccme.edu

Charles Ishimwe is a Communication and New Media major, as well as being a Smile Again Club representative.