Illuminee The Survivor - Folk Features

 

Thank you to Emma Outten for this feature about Illuminee  at Folk Features. Read the feature here   https://folkfeatures.co.uk/illuminee-the-survivor   

Miracle in Kigali on sale at Green Pastures Christian Bookshop

Thank you very much to Green Pastures Christian Bookshop, Dereham, Norfolk for stocking Miracle in Kigali.

For more information about Green Pastures, see www.greenpasturesdereham.org.uk.

Ripples of Hope - Manchester

Illuminee with Sifiso Mazibuko

Illuminee and Paul were really pleased to be invited to take part in the Ripples of Hope Festival launch at Home Manchester at the end of January. The event was organised by Robert F Kennedy Human Rights UK. 

We met Sifiso Mazibuko who was performing at the event and bought a copy of Miracle in Kigali. 

We also met John Elkington, who bought Miracle in Kigali and wrote a very informative blog post, 'Miracle in Manchester' about the event. Read it here.

Miracle in Kigali 2019 Edition Published Monday 8 April

Miracle in Kigali - The Rwandan Genocide, a survivor's journey, by Illuminee Nganemariya with Paul Dickson (2019 edition), marking the 25th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsis, was published in Norwich on Monday 8 April. The book tells the amazing story of Illuminee and her baby son Roger Nsengiyumva's survival in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, during the 1994 Genocide and subsequent life in Norwich.

Miracle in Kigali was first published by The Tagman Press in 2007. This new edition, which updates Illuminee and Roger's story, including Roger's developing film and TV acting career, is published by Paul Dickson Books, price £12.

The authors are donating £2 from the sale of every book to Glaven Valley Churches work with Life in Abundance charity in Rwanda.

Roger was most recently seen on TV as Dadir Hassan in the 2018 BBC drama, Informer. He began his acting career when he was chosen in 2010 to play the role of Fabrice in the feature film, Africa United. The route to Roger's acting career began with Africa United's producer seeing an article about Miracle in Kigali, featuring a photograph of the young Roger.

How does it feel to wake up every morning for more than three months facing the prospect that you and your newborn baby are likely to be brutally murdered that day? This was Illuminee's experience as she existed for 100 days in the living hell of Kigali, after watching her husband be dragged away to be killed by friends who had celebrated their wedding with them a month earlier.

Eventually rescued by soldiers from the Rwandan Patriotic Front on Mount Kigali, Illuminee and Roger moved to the UK in September 1996 to build a new life in Norwich.

"Miracle in Kigali is an extraordinary documents - a unique, tragic, insider's guide to Genocide. This is a book about what a mother will endure to keep her child alive. I read it and wanted to give Illuminee a big hug. She's my hero." Nick Andrews, BBC.

Nick Andrews was the Director of a BBC3 TV documentary, Roger: Genocide Baby (2011), featuring the teenage Roger returning to Rwanda and exploring how his home country had moved on from the Genocide.

Illuminee Nganemariya in Jarrold Norwich 

Miracle in Kigali 2019 edition is on sale at Jarrold Norwich, Jarrold Cromer, Revelation Christian Bookshop Norwich and online at Allthingsnorfolk.com and Amazon. An e-book is also available, click here for the Kindle edition. 

The Genocide Against The Tutsis 25th Anniversary

We commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda at St Peter Mancroft Church, in Norwich, on Sunday 7 April.

Illuminee lit a candle during the morning service to remember those killed in the Genocide. She is pictured after the service with the vicar of St Peter Mancroft, Rev'd Edward Carter.

Miracle in Kigali 2019 Edition

The 2019 edition of Miracle in Kigali, marking the 25^th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, will be published by PaulDickson Books on Monday 8 April.

The new edition updates Illuminée and Roger’s story, including Roger’s developing film and TV acting career. He was most recently seen as Dadir Hassan in the BBC drama Informer.

The authors are donating £2 from the sale of every book to Glaven Valley Churches' work with the Life in Abundance charity in Rwanda.

Paperback, price  £12. ISBN 978-0-9956187-9-4.

Miracle in Kigali was first published by The Tagman Press in October 2007.

How does it feel to wake up every morning for more than three months facing the prospect that you and your newborn baby are likely to be brutally murdered that day?

This was the experience of Illuminée Nganemariya, a young Tutsi bride. By a seeming miracle, she and her son Roger survived the 1994 attempt by Rwanda’s Hutu extremists to wipe their Tutsi neighbours from the face of the earth.

Illuminée existed for 100 days in the living hell of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, after watching her husband be dragged away to be killed by friends who had celebrated their wedding with them a month earlier.

She embarked on a horrific journey through the Genocide, with her baby strapped to her back – their survival was a miracle.

Illuminée and Roger moved to the UK in September 1996 and have built a new life in Norwich.

‘Illuminée still cannot explain how she and her son Roger survived. Reading her book, it becomes clear that there were many, many, miracles.’ Rowan Mantell, Norwich Evening News.

‘Miracle in Kigali is an extraordinary document – a unique, tragic, insiders guide to Genocide. This is a book about what a mother will endure to keep her child alive. I read it and wanted to give Illuminée a big hug. She’s my hero.’ Nick Andrews, BBC

Thank you - African & Caribbean Market

We had a great time at the African & Caribbean Market at The Forum Norwich last month. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and bought a copy of Miracle in Kigali and the Rwandan crafts that we had on display.

Norwich Global Village African & Caribbean Market 28 and 29 September 2018

We will be at the African & Caribbean Market at The Forum in Norwich on 28 and 29 September with copies of Miracle in Kigali and Rwandan cards and baskets.

10th Anniversary Edition of Miracle in Kigali - October 2017

Roger Nsengiyumva and Illuminee Nganemariya, February 2017

October 2017 is the 10th anniversary of the publication of Miracle in Kigali. We are going to publish a new print and ebook edition then, with a new cover, additional photographs and a chapter on developments since 2007.

The extra chapter will include details of Roger's acting career, which began with Africa United in 2010 and includes his London stage debut at The National Theatre in Les Blancs (2016).

50 Christmas Trees in a Church, Dickleburgh, Norfolk

We have a Miracle in Kigali tree again at 50 Christmas Trees in a Church, All Saints Church, Dickleburgh, Norfolk, until Sunday 6 December 2015. It was great to see Illuminee and our tree in Saturday's Eastern Daily Press.

Remember Rwanda 1994 - Genocide Commemoration Event Norwich

Thank you to everyone who joined us at last night's Remember Rwanda 1994 event at Chapel Field Methodist Church, Norwich. 

The collection for the Africa Glaven Mission raised £197.90 plus £15 gift aid; enough to buy eight family water filters to supply 200 people in Rwanda with safe drinking water. Thank you for your generosity.

Norwich Rwandan Genocide Commemoration 7 April to feature singer songwriter Jean Paul Samputu

Rwandan singer songwriter Jean Paul Samputu, who travels the world with his message of peace and reconciliation, will be in Norwich on Tuesday 7 April, to take part in the Rwandan Genocide Commemoration at Chapel Field Road Methodist Church, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The Remember Rwanda 1994 event is being organised by Norwich resident, Illuminée Nganemariya, whose book Miracle in Kigali tells of her, and her son Roger’s, survival during the Rwandan Genocide and subsequent life in Norwich.

All are welcome at the event to light a candle in memory of the 1 million Rwandans who lost their lives during 100 days from April to July 1994. Illuminée will talk about how Rwanda is recovering from the Genocide and Jean Paul Samputu will perform his songs, which draw on the musical traditions from all of Rwanda regions.

There will be a collection for the Africa Glaven Mission, which is raising money for water purifiers in rural Rwanda. Claude Scott will also talk about the work of the Africa Glaven Mission.

Jean Paul Samputu was born in Rwanda 1962 and is a survivor of the 1994 Genocide, during which he lost his parents and three siblings. After the Genocide, Jean Paul dedicated his life and his music to further the causes of peace, healing and reconciliation. He is one of the most successful and prominent African artistes, with 16 albums and a career spanning 30 years.

Illuminée Nganemariya said: “It is wonderful that Jean Paul Samputu is joining us in Norwich on 7 April to share his message of peace and reconciliation.”

In 2014, Jean Paul recorded his latest album Rwandan Dream with Scottish musician Iain Stewart. This is a link to the song Rwandan Dream on YouTube.

Urumuri - Rwandan Genocide Survivors UK Event - Bedford 21 March 2015

Urumuri is a new association set up for UK based survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. A social event was staged in Bedford on 21 March. Rwandans gathered from London, the Midlands, Manchester, Bedford and Norwich.

Jean Paul Samputu performed at the event. This is a short film of part of one of his songs. New Rwandan singer Olivier also sang with Jean Paul.

Illuminee Nganemariya with Jean Paul Samputu

Remember Rwanda 1994 - Norwich 7 April 2015

Dickleburgh Norfolk - Christmas Tree Festival December 2014

Illuminee Nganemariya, Dickleburgh Church Norfolk 

Dickleburgh's Christmas tree festival 50 Christmas Trees in a Church opened yesterday evening and will run until Sunday 7 December.  This a photograph of Illuminee with our Miracle in Kigali tree.

Illuminee also met Richard Bacon MP, who officially opened the festival, and talked to him about his visit to Rwanda and presented him with a copy of Miracle in Kigali.

Illuminee Nganemariya with Richard Bacon MP at Dickleburgh Church

Miracle in Kigali and Illuminee Nganemariya GoodReads

Miracle in Kigali and Illuminee Nganemariya's profile at GoodReads  have been updated.

You can check them out here.    

Miracle in Kigali Paperback at Amazon

We are now selling Miracle in Kigali paperback via Amazon. To buy Miracle in Kigali at Amazon click here.  

You can also keep up to date with us at our facebook page here

Africa Glaven Mission - Roger: Genocide Baby

We visited Blakeney towards the end of October to show Roger's BBC 3 documentary Roger: Genocide Baby, by kind permission of the Director, Nick Andrews, at an event in Blakeney Methodist Church, which was organised by Claude Scott and the Africa Glaven Mission.  Read Claude's report of the event here.

Find out more about the Africa Glaven Mission's work in Rwanda here.

Miracle in Kigali ebook

Just a reminder that Miracle in Kigali is available as an ebook on these sites:
Amazon http://amzn.to/1AhL5VH
Apple iBooks http://bit.ly/1qWybUD
Kobo http://bit.ly/1xoS8t6
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/14LclyU

50 Christmas Trees in a Church, Dickleburgh, Norfolk, 30 November to 7 December

50 Christmas Trees in a Church, Dickleburgh, South Norfolk

We are entering a Christmas Tree again into 50 Christmas Trees in a Church at All Saints Dickleburgh, South Norfolk. The event runs from Sunday 30 November to Sunday 7 December 2014.

More than 50 decorated Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes will fill the church contributed to the event by local businesses, community organisations and children’s groups. The event has a competitive side, as each organisation that enters has the chance to win prize money in the visitors’ vote for the best trees. There is also a special award for the most innovative tree.

Entry to the event is free, but there is a charge for the programme and the voting slip. The festival is raising money for two charities Ormiston Families and Elizabeth's Legacy of Hope.

The event is open from 10am to 7pm every day except Sunday 7 December when it closes at 4pm