By Sabrine Sharif Baena
I feel confident enough to confirm on behalf of the group that this morning was not the most cheerful. We woke up knowing that it was going to be a long day; we had a record-breaking three meetings ahead of us. To our surprise however, the lovely people of our hostel had prepared one of our favourite breakfasts at Mamba, shakshuka. This was exactly the boost of energy we needed, and we were now ready to take on the day with eagerness.
Our first visit was at the Kigali National Library (KGL), where we had the pleasure of meeting with Director Tessy Rusera. She expressed the mission of the library as an accessible space for people to gain knowledge and educate themselves through reading books. It was very interesting to hear Tessy explain how the entire book ecosystem of Rwanda had to be rebuilt after 1994. Providing a location where cultural and inspiration books written by local authors was yet another example of the holistic and admirable reconstruction process that Rwanda has undergone in such a short period of time.
The KGL organises several events during the year, but the one that touched our hearts the most was the annual event where the spotlight is on young storytellers. Children are able to submit stories written by them on a set topic, with the winner of the event receiving nothing more and nothing less than having their story published! This event was definitely the most popular and successful, with an outstanding 1,300 submissions last year. Hearing about the enthusiasm amongst the young generation of Rwanda was extremely inspiring to all of us. Children took the opportunity to assert their agency, empowering themselves through the art of self-expression and imaginative storytelling. We are grateful to KGL also, for providing a meeting space throughout our stay.
Before we knew it, three meetings were over and it was time for dinner, and what a memorable one it turned out to be! The air was full with anticipation as we awaited the burgers that Burger Bros had to offer. One by one the burgers were laid on the table, and we soon devoured every bite of them. The simple joy of a good meal had the power to transform us into the happiest people in Kigali. Food, it seemed, held the key to our collective happiness.
This eventful dinner was the perfect distraction to our thinking about this night being our last full night in Kigali. It would be the last motorbike ride home and the last time we would roam the streets of this city, feeling the perfect temperature on our skin.
What was worse was thinking that it would be our last full night at our dear home, Mamba. The moments collectively brushing our teeth before bed, the long chats with a view from our balcony and passing the mosquito spray between us would soon remain just memories in our minds. We tried to put Anne's words into practice by remaining present, cherishing our last moments in Kigali.
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