Buffalo State to host Kwibuka 32 event in collaboration with Buffalo Rwanda Community Association

Kwibuka, which means "remember" in Kinyarwanda, a national language of Rwanda, is an annual commemoration period that serves as a solemn remembrance of the lives lost during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda and a recognition of the resilience of its survivors. Each year, numerous events are held in honor of Kwibuka and this year, for the second year in a row, Buffalo State's Anne Frank Project will host an open-to-the-public event on campus, co-sponsored by the Buffalo Rwanda Community Association (BRCA).

"Kwibuka is about preserving truth and making sure this history is never forgotten," said Christine Uwimbabazi Mfizi, a leader for BRCA and president of Prime Care Transportation Inc. "Over one million people were killed in just 100 days. That is about 10,000 people every single day. Those numbers are overwhelming, but Kwibuka reminds us that each number represents a life, a family, and a story. Kwibuka is also about standing with survivors, letting them know they are not alone, that we see them, and that we honor their strength. It is a moment to say thank you for their resilience, for continuing to move forward, and for showing the world what it means to rebuild after unimaginable loss. It embodies the spirit of Kwibuka through remembrance, unity, and renewal."

"Kwibuka is an opportunity to appeal to the world to prevent genocide whenever signs of risk begin to manifest," said Drew Kahn, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and founding director of the Anne Frank Project. "This event is a giant hug to the local Rwandan community. It's a way to say, 'We are with you. You are with us. We stand with you on this important day. We love you.'"

Since 2012, Kahn has brought more than 200 Buffalo State students for study abroad in Rwanda through the Anne Frank Project, a program designed to build community, manage conflict, and explore identity by sharing stories stifled by oppression. In 2024, he was invited to speak at national Kwibuka 30 events, including the United Nations' International Conference on the Occasion of the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda in New York City and the Embassy of Rwanda's 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda in Washington, D.C. Kahn also offered remarks at Kwibuka events in Toronto, Dallas, and Buffalo that year. Invitations of this nature continued in 2025 and 2026.

"It is difficult to put into words how honored I was to be counted among the voices present at these events," Kahn said. "These events validated the work our students, colleagues, and campus have invested in for years. I couldn't be prouder to stand with our partners in Rwanda, especially as we hear genocide denials attempting to shift the narrative."

Professor Kahn with Buffalo Rwanda Community Association leadership during Kwibuka 31.

There are more than 300 Rwandan families in Western New York, which Kahn said provides an opportunity for students that travel to Rwanda with AFP to use what they've learned and experienced to create connections at home.

"It's really important educationally that students come back and have a place to put their lessons learned," he said. "It's imperative that they connect with the community and realize that they understand their story. When Rwandans here meet our students who have gone to Rwanda, they're so excited. They're practically family."

Last year's Kwibuka event at Buffalo State had more than 320 attendees. Similar or greater attendance is expected this year, including the Rwandan ambassador to the United States, City of Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan. Attendees can expect commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the opportunity to connect with the community, as well as traditional Rwandan food.

"Kwibuka invites us to remember not only a tragic history, but the resilience, healing, and renewal that emerge when communities come together," said Bufffalo State provost Amitra Wall. "As home to the Anne Frank Project, we at Buffalo State understand that memory is not passive; it calls us to listen, to learn, and to stand together against hatred and division. Participating alongside the Rwandan Community of Western New York reflects our belief that education must extend beyond classrooms into acts of witness, empathy, and connection. Kwibuka is essential to who we are as an institution committed to dignity, dialogue, and belonging."

"It is important that we continue to speak the truth, so that this genocide is never denied or forgotten," Uwimbabazi Mfizi said. "That is why events like this matter. They bring people together to reflect, to learn, and to ensure that 'never again' is something we actively work toward. It is also important to recognize the journey Rwanda has taken, a journey of healing and reconciliation. Despite the deep pain, the country has worked to rebuild, to bring people back together, and to move forward with unity. My hope is that through events like this, we continue to raise awareness, support survivors, and inspire the next generation to choose humanity, empathy, and unity."

"Kwibuka is the fruit of our connections, a reminder of our responsibility to those countries that we travel to and take our students to," Kahn added. "These people and their stories matter. We are one of America's official refugee cities, so it's natural for us to be celebrating culturally sensitive and important moments and to remind everyone that they are welcome at Buffalo State. It's important to put our students in the middle of these unique learning experiences-meeting international Ambassadors, speaking with local new Americans, and hearing the testimonies of genocide survivors. These rich experiential moments can help them to discover deeper meaning when combined with their traditional research."

The event takes place Saturday, May 9 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union, but attendees are welcome to attend for any portion of time.

"Kwibuka challenges all of us to stand against hatred and division wherever we see it," said Uwimbabazi Mfizi. "It is not only about remembering the past. It is about shaping the future."