Gahugu Gato

Gaby’s childhood in Burundi was a happy one, with a French father and a Rwandan mother. But in 1993, his parents’ separation coincides with the start of the civil war that will lead to the Tutsi genocide. In 2016, Gaël Faye’s first novel approached history through storytelling. To adapt this powerful text with the collaboration of its author, Frédéric Fisbach and Dida Nibagwire invited Rwandan performers to invoke memory and show the reality of their country’s reconstruction. Blending speech, song, and dance, Gahugu Gato (Petit Pays) questions the very possibility of living together again. Designed to be performed outdoors, the show was presented in Rwanda, first in Kigali and later in the hills where the genocide – whose thirtieth commemoration took place in April 2024 – started. 

يقدّم فريديريك فيشباك وديدا نيباغويري، رواية غايل فاي، ويعرضون على المسرح قصة عائلة تعيش في بوروندي، مواجهة الأحداث التي ستؤدي إلى مجزرة التوتسي في رواندا. 

Interview with Frédéric Fisbach et Dida Nibagwire

With Frédéric Fisbach, Olivier Hakizimana, Léon Mandali, Carine Maniraguha, Philipe Mirasano, Natacha Muziramakenga, Dida Nibagwire, Norbert Regero, Michael Sengazi
and Jean-Patient Akayezu (inanga, flute and vocals), Kaya Byinshii (vocals), Samuel Kamanzi (guitar and vocals)
Direction Frédéric Fisbach and Dida Nibagwire
In collaboration with Gaël Faye
Translation Emmanuel Munyarukumbunzi
Based on the French adaptation by Samuel Gallet
Lighting Eloé Level
Costumes Asantii, House of Tayo, Moshions
Surtitles Patience Umotoni
Technical management Eloé Level
Sound management Foucault de Malet
Administration, production, touring En Votre Compagnie (Olivier Talpaert, Edouard Delelis, Nathalie Untersinger), L'Espace (Patience Umutoni)

Production L’Ensemble Atopique II (Cannes) and L’Espace (Kigali)
Coproduction Mixt terrain d’arts en Loire-Atlantique, Solstice – Pôle international de production et de diffusion (Pays de la Loire), Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Västra Götalandsregionen (Sweden)
Performances in partnership with France Médias Monde
With the support of Institut français, CITF – Commission internationale du théâtre francophone
Based on the novel Petit Pays by Gaël Faye, published by Éditions Grasset
With artistic participation of Jeune Théâtre National.