Kizito Mihigo

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Kizito Mihigo (2012)

Kizito Mihigo (born July 25, 1981 in Kibeho ; † February 17, 2020 in Kigali ) was a Rwandan gospel singer , songwriter , organist and composer of sacred music . As a former refugee from the genocide in RwandaMihigo later campaigned intensively for the peace process. In 2014, Mihigo was arrested in Rwanda on charges of planning terrorist attacks and contact with a rebel organization, and in 2015 he was sentenced to ten years in prison. This court decision was described as politically motivated by both the media and the diplomatic side. Kizito Mihigo died in custody.

life and work

Mihigo was born on July 25, 1981, the third of six children to Augustine Buguzi and Placidia Iribagiza. Mihigo began composing songs at the age of nine. He was a Catholic .

In 1994 he lost his father during the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda. He fled to Burundi , where he met surviving relatives. He then tried in vain to join the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) to avenge his family. In July of the same year he returned to Rwanda and attended the Petit Seminaire de Karubanda, a high school. Even at this age he was considered the most famous church organist and composer of the Roman Catholic Church in Rwanda . After high school he attended the seminary .

In 2001 he took part in a competition to create a national anthem and came in fifth. This brought him to the committee to clean up the draft of the final hymn. The authorities in Kigali , when they became aware of him, sent him to Europe to give him a musical education. He attended conservatories in Paris and Belgium . Among other things, Mihigo took courses in organ playing and composition with Françoise Levéchin-Gangloff .

During his stay in Europe, he got to know the International Union of Reconciliation ( Mouvement international de la Réconciliation , MIR), a private organization that works for peace. In 2007, Mihigo and MIR organized a fair and a concert for peace in Africa in Brussels . From where he lived in Belgium at the time , he founded the Kizito Mihigo Peace Foundation (KMP), a non-governmental organization that advocates peace and reconciliation.

In 2011 he returned to Rwanda and became a respected artist. He was regularly invited to sing the national anthem at festivities - repeatedly in the presence of Paul Kagame , the President of Rwanda. From 2012 onwards, Mihigo hosted Umusanzu w'Umuhanzi (The Artists' Contribution), a one-hour, weekly national television program by the KMP Foundation. Also in 2012, rumors of a secret relationship between him and Miss Jojo , a Muslim R&B singer , circulated in the local media . Both denied a relationship. In April 2013, Mihigo appeared at number 2 in a list of the top 8 hottest male celebrities in Rwanda ( Top 8 hottest male celebrities in Rwanda ) . Mihigo was single and had no children.

Conspiracy proceedings

arrest

On April 7, 2014, Mihigo stayed away from the 1994 genocide commemoration, even though he was supposed to perform as an artist. On April 15, 2014, after he had disappeared for eight days, Kizito Mihigo was brought to a press conference by the Rwandan police. It emerged that he had been arrested on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks and collaborating with the Forces Démocratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) and the political party Rwanda National Congress (RNC). Both organizations denied that the defendants were among their members.

Observers, however, were convinced that the musician's arrest had much more to do with the publication of his song Igisobanuro cy'urupfu (“The Meaning of Death”) days earlier. In this, Mihigo indirectly accused the Rwandan Patriotic Front , President Kagame's party, of having been involved in genocide as part of the civil war - a subject that is taboo in Rwanda. Following the public announcement of the arrest, the Rwandan government banned all Kizito Mihigo songs from being broadcast on local radio and television.

A few hours after the interrogation on April 21, 2014, a “confessional interview” was broadcast in which Kizito pleaded “guilty of all charges” and asked for “representation by a lawyer”. In a second “confessional interview” he said he agreed to read a statement in which he would revoke the “lack of rule of law in Rwanda” and his call to the youth to stand up.

procieedings

After two postponements, the Mihigo trial began on November 6th in Kigali. The prosecution called for life for the singer . Mihigo pleaded guilty to all charges and asked the judges for leniency. His lawyers, Mihigo, said they could not see anything that would constitute a criminal offense. The three co-defendants pleaded not guilty and denounced torture.

Prosecutors accused the singer of chatting over the Internet with an alleged member of the RNC, an opposition party in exile that Kigali classifies as a terrorist organization. In the course of these conversations, the singer is said to have suggested overthrowing the government and killing a number of people, including President Paul Kagame. According to BBC television , the prosecutor said the defendants intended to avenge Colonel Patrick Karegeya , the former intelligence chief of the Rwandan army who had become the political opponent of the Kagame government. Karegeya - a co-founder of the RNC - was found dead on January 1, 2014 in a luxury hotel in South Africa . He had been strangled. The South African government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of being responsible for attacks on political opponents who are in exile in South Africa. However, the Rwandan authorities have always denied this. In his defense, the singer admitted having had these conversations with a man named Sankara. He denied having any intention of killing the president and said he had these conversations out of sheer curiosity. "There was a conflict between me and some government officials at the time, but I never had a problem with the president," Radio France Internationale quoted him as saying. On the second day of the trial, the singer asked in vain to convict him alone. On the third day of the trial, Mihigo renounced his lawyers in a public trial and continued to plead guilty.

verdict

On February 27, 2015, Mihigo was sentenced to ten years in prison. The court found it proven that he was involved in a conspiracy against the Rwandan government. He was acquitted of "conspiracy to commit terrorist acts" for lack of evidence.

Reactions

After the arrest, the United States expressed concern about the “wave of arrests” and Great Britain asked the Rwandan government to “ensure that due legal process is followed”.

The Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme (FIDH) spoke of a repressive attitude of the Rwandan government (" tournure répressive prize par le régime "), Reporters Without Borders of a wave of intimidation of the Kigali media (" Wave of intimidation of Kigali media "). The trial of Mihigo was also mentioned in the annual reports of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International .

After the verdict, the opposition spoke of a political process and described Mihigo as a political prisoner. L'Express spoke of a regime in panic (“ pouvoir fébrile ”, literally “feverish power”) that was on the defensive.

Further development and death

In mid-September 2018, Mihigo, like the opposition politician Victoire Ingabire and other 2,138 prisoners, was pardoned by the Rwandan government and released early from custody.

On February 13, 2020, it became known that Kizito Mihigo was arrested after trying to flee to Burundi.

He was found dead in his cell on February 17, 2020. His death caused a sensation both in Rwanda itself and in the Rwandan diaspora. Mihigo's suicide has been reported in the Rwandan media , but there are numerous images of Mihigo's battered body that suggest another cause of death.

Musical work

After the genocide in 1994, Mihigo composed more than 400 songs in 20 years. The best known include:

  • Twanze gutoberwa amateka
  • Iteme ("About forgiveness")
  • Inuma ("About Peace")
  • Arc en ciel ("rainbow")
  • Urugamba rwo kwibohora
  • Mwungeri w'intama
  • Yohani yarabyanditse
  • Turi abana b'u Rwanda
  • Igisobanuro cy'urupfu ("The Meaning of Death")
  • Umujinya mwiza

Christian fans criticized the composer for moving thematically in his music over time from religion to political issues. His religious concerts attracted many people in Kigali and Kibeho , the artist's birthplace. Such events were often carried out in the presence of various ministers.

Activities for Peace and Reconciliation

After settling in Kigali with his foundation in partnership with the government of Rwanda, the non-governmental organization World Vision International and the United States Embassy, ​​he began touring the schools and prisons of Rwanda.

In the schools it was his aim to promote the education of young people in the values ​​of peace and reconciliation and to promote the establishment of “peace clubs”. In the prisons, the singer sought discussion with the inmates about the acts they had committed before he set up the so-called dialogue clubs Club de transformation de conflits (Club for the transformation of conflicts).

Awards

In August 2011, Kizito Mihigo received the CYRWA (Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers) Prize from the Imbuto Foundation, an organization run by Rwanda's first wife, Jeannette Kagame.

In April 2013 the “Rwanda Governance Board” rated the Kizito Mihigo Peace Foundation (KMP) as one of the ten best local non-governmental organizations that have promoted good government work in Rwanda. On this occasion, the Foundation received the “RGB award” in the amount of RWF 8,000,000 (around 10,000 euros ).

Web links

Commons : Kizito Mihigo  - collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

  1. ↑ a b Richard Mugarura: Rwanda: Kizito Mihigo Urges Artistes to Promote Peace Through Music. In: allAfrica.com . April 11, 2014, accessed July 29, 2015 .
  2. ↑ a b TWA / TBM / SOC: Un artiste rwandais s'Insurge contre les “falsificateurs de l'histoire” du genocide de 1994. In: Panapress . April 19, 2011, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  3. ↑ a b c Rwanda: 10 ans de prison pour le chanteur popular Kizito Mihigo. In: L'Express. February 27, 2015, accessed August 17, 2015 (French).
  4. ↑ a b Rwanda: Kizito Mihigo is a political prisoner. In: The Rwandan. March 7, 2015, archived from the original on July 11, 2015 ; accessed on August 17, 2015 .
  5. ↑ a b AFP: Rwanda: Washington préoccupé par la vague d'arrestations. In: RFI. April 24, 2014, accessed August 17, 2015 (French).
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Emma Munyaneza: Peace Messenger - Kizito Mihigo using music to spread peace in society. In: The Independent (Uganda). October 3, 2012, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  7. ↑ a b c d e Nadine R. Umutoni: Kizito uses music to promote peace, reconciliation. In: The New Times . November 20, 2012, accessed July 29, 2015 .
  8. ^ Godfrey Ntagungira: How l overcame desire for revenge - Kizito Mihigo. In: The New Times. April 25, 2011, accessed July 29, 2015 .
  9. ↑ Rwanda: Quatre personnes arrêtées, dont le chanteur Kizito Mihigo. In: RFI . April 16, 2014, accessed July 29, 2015 (French).
  10. ^ Biography de l'artiste rwandais, Kizito Mihigo. In: Rwanda news. June 2009, accessed July 30, 2015 (French).
  11. ^ Bulletin du MIR - France. ( PDF ) In: MIR. September 26, 2007, accessed July 29, 2015 (French).
  12. ^ Bulletin du MIR - France. In: MIR. December 12, 2007, archived from the original on March 2016 ; Retrieved July 29, 2015 (French).
  13. ^ Rwanda: Portrait de Kizito Mihigo, un chanteur qui risque la prison à vie. In: Afrique Infos . July 29, 2014, archived from the original on September 25, 2015 ; Retrieved July 29, 2015 (French).
  14. ^ Rwandan singer jailed for plot to kill president. In: Reuters . February 27, 2015, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  15. ↑ Bryan Kimenyi: Top 8 hottest male celebrities in Rwanda. In: The New Times. April 24, 2013, accessed July 30, 2015 .
  16. ↑ Abroad compact. In: The world . April 16, 2014, accessed August 19, 2015 .
  17. ↑ Stephanie Aglietti: Rwanda: le RNC et les FDLR condamnent les récentes arrestations. In: RFI. April 21, 2014, accessed September 22, 2015 (French).
  18. ↑ a b Jonathan W. Rosen: Dissident 'choirboy': Rwandan gospel star on trial. In: Al Jazeera America. December 11, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  19. ↑ Stéphanie Aglietti: Le chanteur rwandais Kizito Mihigo condamné à 10 ans de prison. In: France24. February 28, 2015, archived from the original on September 23, 2015 ; Retrieved September 22, 2015 (French).
  20. ^ Pourquoi l'affaire Kizito Mihigo est louche. In: The Rwandan. April 24, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  21. ↑ AFP: Rwanda: diffusion d'une nouvelle confession du chanteur Kizito Mihigo. In: RFI. April 23, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  22. ^ La prison à vie est requise contre le chanteur rwandais Kizito Mihigo. In: France 24 . December 30, 2014, archived from the original on July 18, 2015 ; Retrieved July 31, 2015 (French).
  23. ↑ AFP: Rwanda: accusé de "terrorisme", le musicien Kizito Mihigo plaide coupable. In: RTBF . November 6, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  24. ↑ a b c AFP: Rwanda: A l'ouverture de son procès Kizito Mihigo plaide coupable. In: RFI. November 6, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  25. ↑ AFP: Procès de Kizito Mihigo: comparution de Cassien Ntamuhanga. In: RFI. November 15, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  26. ↑ a b AFP: En plein procès Kizito Mihigo renonce à ses avocats. In: RFI. November 15, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  27. ↑ Rwandan accused of plotting against the regime alleges torture. In: Daily Mail . November 28, 2014, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  28. ^ Opposition from Rwanda - Strangled in the hotel room. In: The daily newspaper . January 15, 2014, accessed October 27, 2015 .
  29. ↑ Thomas Scheen: Rwandan General Arrested - The Murders of the Victors. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . June 23, 2015, accessed October 27, 2015 .
  30. ↑ Le chanteur rwandais Kizito Mihigo n'obtient pas d'être jugé seul. In: Star Africa . October 10, 2014, archived from the original on March 3, 2016 ; Retrieved July 31, 2015 (French).
  31. ↑ Le chanteur rwandais Kizito Mihigo condamné à dix ans de prison. In: France 24 . February 27, 2015, accessed July 31, 2015 (French).
  32. ^ Rwanda - Country case study update. In: Gov.uk. October 16, 2014, accessed August 17, 2015 .
  33. ^ AFP: Rwanda: trois personnes arrêtées pour "menace" contre l'Etat. In: RFI. April 14, 2014, accessed August 17, 2015 (French).
  34. ^ Wave of intimidation of Kigali media. In: Rsf.org. April 28, 2014, accessed August 17, 2015 .
  35. ↑ World Report 2015: Rwanda - Events of 2014. Human Rights Watch, accessed September 22, 2015 .
  36. ↑ Amnesty International Report 2014/15. Amnesty International, accessed September 22, 2015 .
  37. ^ Rwanda: Kizito Mihigo - Un procès à l'image du régime. In: The Rwandan. March 7, 2015, accessed August 17, 2015 (French).
  38. ↑ Rwandan opposition leader Ingabire is free. Deutsche Welle, September 15, 2015, accessed on the same day.
  39. ^ Contraversial Musician Kizito Mihigo Arrested While Fleeing The Country . In: taarifa.rw , February 13, 2020, accessed on February 13, 2020.
  40. ↑ Music star Kizito Mihigo is dead. In: taz. Retrieved February 17, 2020 .
  41. ↑ Rwanda: la perpétuité requise pour Kizito Mihigo. In: BBC . December 30, 2014, accessed July 30, 2015 (French).
  42. ↑ a b c Linda Mbabazi: Kizito Mihigo churns out Liberation song. In: The New Times. June 28, 2011, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  43. ↑ a b c d Linda Mbabazi: Kizito thrills fans during Easter. In: The New Times. April 25, 2011, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  44. ↑ a b Linda Mbabazi: Kizito Mihigo excites fans on Xmas. In: The New Times. December 27, 2011, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  45. ↑ Dr Eugène Ndabaga: Kizito Mihigo's song 'Umujinya Mwiza' an excellent philosophical, social cohesion and nation building aid. In: The New Times. April 27, 2013, accessed July 31, 2015 .
  46. ↑ Edmund Kagire: First Lady awards young Rwandan achievers. In: The New Times. August 20, 2011, accessed July 29, 2015 .
  47. ^ Rwandan civil society organs win RGB grants. In: Great Lakes Voice. April 21, 2013, accessed July 29, 2015 .
personal data
SURNAME Mihigo, Kizito
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Rwandan gospel singer, songwriter, organist and composer of sacred music
BIRTH DATE July 25, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH Kibeho
DATE OF DEATH 17th February 2020
PLACE OF DEATH Kigali