Book Review and Reflection: Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza

Book Published: 2006
Buy the Book: HERE

Introduction

I have always had a keen interest in learning about the Rwandan Genocide, stemming from my undergraduate studies in law. The 1994 Rwandan Genocide, where nearly one million Tutsis were slaughtered in just 100 days, is a significant aspect of Rwanda’s history. My dissertation for my LLB honours degree focused on the human rights of women and children during this tragic time.

However, most of my early research was based on official documents and academic papers. As my interest deepened, I grew a strong desire to learn about people’s lived experiences of the Genocide. Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza was the first book I encountered in my search for personal narratives from the genocide, and it offered a powerful, unforgettable perspective.

Book Summary

Left to Tell is divided into four full chapters. It begins with Immaculée’s narration of a happy, blossoming childhood. She lived with her loving family, attended school, and dreamed of a successful academic and professional career. She was an intelligent child who consistently achieved excellent grades.

Growing up, Immaculée did not even know which tribe she belonged to; it only became an issue at school when a teacher conducted a tribal roll call, separating Hutus and Tutsis. Interestingly, she noted that it was impossible to distinguish Hutus and Tutsis physically; they spoke the same language and lived side by side.

The genocide started unexpectedly. Tutsis who were exiled attempted to return home, and their efforts were quickly twisted by propaganda into widespread hatred, culminating in mass killings. One of the most disturbing aspects she shares is how neighbours, once peaceful and friendly, turned on the Tutsis they had lived alongside, including her and her family. Friends she played with turned on her, and the adults she grew up looking up to wanted her killed or to kill her. Immaculée was fortunate to be hidden by a village pastor in a tiny en-suite bathroom, along with seven other women, for 91 days. In that cramped space, she found God, prayed constantly, and discovered an inner strength that helped her survive. When she emerged from that bathroom and the genocide came to an end, she learnt about the horrific ways most of her family was killed. All of this would be enough to turn anyone bitter.

However, throughout the memoir, Immaculée refers to those committing violence as “killers” rather than labelling them as “Hutus,” a powerful choice that shows her refusal to generalise, hate, or discriminate against an entire group. She also notes that the Genocide affected both Hutus and Tutsis, and the only way forward is to help others and heal. She believes her faith was what carried her through the darkness, and today she continues to spread love, hope, and forgiveness.

Her memoir is heart-wrenching yet profoundly brave. She embodies resilience, strength, survival, and voice. It leaves readers asking: How does one move on after such a loss? How does one forgive? Yet Immaculée shows that both are possible — choosing love over hate every single time.

Recommendation

If you are interested in survivor narratives, social justice, or the intersection of trauma and spirituality, Left to Tell is a powerful and essential read. It stands as a profound reminder of the human spirit’s capacity to choose love, even when the world seems irredeemable.

About the Author

(Some of the below information is adapted from Immaculée’s official website. Please visit her site for more details on her and her other works.)

Immaculée Ilibagiza, born in Rwanda, was a university student when the 1994 genocide began. Her father sent her to hide at a pastor’s home, where she spent 91 days with seven other women in a tiny bathroom. During that time, she found strength in prayer, taught herself English using a Bible and a dictionary, and coped with immense grief.

After the genocide, having lost most of her family, she chose forgiveness over hatred. In 1998, Immaculée moved to the United States, worked with the United Nations, and published Left to Tell. The memoir became a New York Times bestseller, translated into 17 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. She has since become a globally recognised speaker on faith, forgiveness, and resilience, receiving numerous awards for her humanitarian work.

If you enjoyed this review, you may also appreciate my review and reflection of Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Nompumelelo Mungi Ngomane.

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