Glossary

Akazu: The ‘inner circle’ of government who wielded most power during Habyarimana’s presidency.

askari: East African soldier or policeman, a term now used in France’s ex-colonies to describe privately employed security guard.

burgomaster: a commune’s chief administrative officer appointed by the central government.

cellule: a group of ten or so rural house-holds: the smallest unit in a commune.

commune: thousands of homesteads scattered over adjacent hills.

Interahamwe: a civilian militia recruited to help implement genocide.

Indaba: a conference or serious debate, usually involving the elders of a community.

injara : Ethiopian bread made with ???? flour.

matatu: minibus taxi.

muzungu: white person.

rugo: peasant homestead: one or more huts usually enclosed by a fence.

umuganda: free labour demanded by the state (previously by kings or chiefs) as a form of tax.

wat: Ethiopian spicy sauce.