On November 1st, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre hosted an extraordinary musical performance, “East West Street: A Song of Good and Evil,” inspired by Philippe Sands’ award-winning book East West Street. Dignitaries attending included First Lady Jeannette Kagame, French Ambassador Antoine Anfre, German Ambassador Heike Uta Dettmann and Minister of State for Youth and Arts Sandrine Umutoni, along with numerous arts enthusiasts.
Collaboratively organized by the Aegis Trust, the French Embassy and the German Embassy, the performance delved into the birth of modern international justice at the 1946 Nuremberg Tribunal, where groundbreaking legal principles were established to protect humanity from atrocities.
In his poignant opening remarks, Aegis CEO Freddy Mutanguha highlighted the profound significance of hosting this performance at the Kigali Genocide Memorial: “Welcoming this work, inspired by Philippe Sands’ book, within this memorial is particularly meaningful. By evoking the lives and works of Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin, who introduced the concepts of crimes against humanity and genocide into international law, this performance perfectly reflects our commitment to justice and human rights.” He added, “Their struggle and legacy resonate deeply with our mission at the Memorial and Aegis Trust, reminding us of the importance of protecting individual rights to prevent further atrocities.”
French Ambassador Antoine Anfre reflected on historical connections: “Three years ago, President Emmanuel Macron visited this place to pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi laid to rest in this memorial. Today, we are honored to collaborate with the Embassy of Germany on this project, a privilege that reflects our shared commitment to peace.”
German Ambassador Heike Uta Dettmann spoke about the historical context that made the performance especially relevant: “This is a fascinating project we are experiencing together this evening. Lemberg is a city that changed its name several times during the Second World War, and now it is once again ravaged by the war in Ukraine.” She expressed hope for younger generations, urging them to learn from history and combat antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, particularly crucial in an era where social media often propagates hate and dangerous ideologies.
