Rwandan Genocide

Short History Of...

Noiser

History

4.7 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 February 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For hundreds of years, Rwanda’s Hutu and Tutsi groups had lived in relative harmony. But the arrival of European colonists enforced and exaggerated the differences between them, until, from the mid-twentieth century, resentment began to boil over. By 1994, the two groups were sworn enemies. Over 100 days, violence engulfed the country, as members of the Hutu majority worked systematically to exterminate the Tutsi. Spurred on by government and military officials, neighbour turned against neighbour, friend against friend, until hundreds of thousands lay dead. But what precipitated this senseless mass killing? Why were so many ordinary people willing to participate? And what responsibility does the international community bear for the bloodshed? This is a Short History Of the Rwandan Genocide. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Allan C. Stam, Professor of Public Policy and Politics at the University of Virginia. Written by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact Check by Sean Coleman Get every episode of Short History Of… a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions ⁠A Short History of Ancient Rome⁠ - the debut book from the Noiser Network is out now! Discover the epic rise and fall of Rome like never before. Pick up your copy now at your local bookstore or visit ⁠⁠noiser.com/books⁠⁠ to learn more. Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code shorthistory at the link below and get 60% off annual plans: https://incogni.com/shorthistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Sophie Tom and the kids are standing by the luggage carousel, waiting for Sophie's bag.
0:03.9	Looks like she's going to be wearing Tom's clothes for a week, but she's not worried.
0:07.5	Their HSBC Premier bank account has comprehensive worldwide travel insurance that covers them, the kids and grandkids, if they had them.
0:14.8	Everything's Premier when your bank account is.
0:16.9	Search HSBC Premier, HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity.
0:22.1	Apply with £100,000 annual income or £100,000 savings or investments with HSBC UK or Premier status abroad,
0:27.1	covered provided by Aviva Insurance Limited.
0:28.7	Age restrictions and limitations apply.
0:30.3	This episode contains content that some may find distressing.
0:37.4	It's late September 2006.
0:40.3	In a small village in Rwanda's eastern province, the day dawns bright and humid.
0:46.3	A woman pulls open the creaking wooden door of her small house and steps out into the sticky heat.
0:53.3	As she follows a familiar, dusty path through the village,
0:57.2	a group of giggling school children rush past, and one of her neighbors calls a greeting. She raises
1:03.4	her hand in acknowledgement, but does not stop. She has no time to linger and chat today.
1:12.6	The dirt road is fringed with lush green trees,
1:16.6	home to a dazzling array of bird species,
1:19.6	their raucous cacophony singing into the vivid blue sky.
1:24.6	Soon she comes to the wooden pens that house her two dairy cows, her main source of income, especially since the death of her husband.
1:34.3	Usually the milking is the first job of the day, but today her daughter is doing it in her place.
1:40.3	She calls out to thank her and continues towards the village centre.
1:45.0	In the main square, a long table has been set out in the shade,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Noiser, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Noiser and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.