Dancing in a Thousand Hills

This week was a particularly busy one for the PFR staff as we welcomed two very important visitors: Gerrit Wolfaardt and his son Thabo, both born and raised in South Africa and now living in the United States.

Gerrit has an incredible story that led him to Rwanda. Having grown up as a white Afrikaaner during Apartheid he was taught by everyone around him, his school, his church, and his parents, to hate ‘the Blacks’.  He was told they were nothing but snakes and baboons and that the South Africa needed to get rid of them. He slept with Hitler’s ‘Final Solution’ on his bedside table and had plans similar of his own to rid his country of the black population who were plaguing it. As he grew up and began training to be a lawyer God opened his eyes to the fact that South Africa had far more black people than white, and he says he began to see these people as PEOPLE, just like him. This revelation led him to the townships to see first-hand the crimes being committed against black South Africans, crimes that he had previously denied vehemently, even when his own black housekeeper Grace told him friends and family were being murdered.  At this point the transformation that had already begun in his mind was reinforced by his actions as he started to defend black prisoners accused of committing crimes against the government. Having experienced deep hatred and in equal measure an incredible transformation in his own life,  Gerrit can not only relate to people who committed genocide crimes but understands the incredible importance of reconciliation. He deems the message of reconciliation that PFR promotes so vital that it needs be spread, both across the border to the DRC where thousands of Rwandan refugees hide, refusing to return home due to fear of revenge attacks, and to the rest of the world.

Gerrit sharing his story with Kimonyi villagers

To this end Gerrit brought his son Thabo to Rwanda. Thabo is a well-known film-maker in the US and currently teaches film-making at UCLA to help fund his passion of making short films and documentaries. His most recent film ‘Joburg’ not only won numerous awards at film festivals all over the US, but was also shown at Sundance 2010. Inspired by real life events Thabo clearly has an incredible talent.

Thabo capturing testimonies

On their arrival in Rwanda two weeks ago, Gerrit and Thabo began training two local filmmakers to help with the documentary, not only lowering the production costs by saving money on flights but also encouraging the Rwandan film-industry. Filming then began at PFR’s Kimonyi Reconciliation Village nestled in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes two hours north of Kigali. The story behind the documentary is that of a troupe of dancers from the village composed of genocide survivors, perpetrators, ex-combatants and returnees.

Ex-combatant having returned from the DRC

Meeting them, and watching not only the way they dance together but the jokes and laughter that they share, you would not have any idea of their diverse and seemingly opposing circumstances. They are a credit to work of PFR and have used their own initiative to show and teach others their incredible story by singing songs of reconciliation, dancing together and sharing their testimonies. All of this was captured on film over four incredible days and taken to the borders of the DRC where the troupe addressed local authorities and took their dancing to the street, attracting crowds both old and young. 

The dance troupe take to the street

It was a brilliant experience to be a part of and Thabo will return to Rwanda next July to continue filming, undoubtedly he has a lot of editing to keep him busy until then! PFR would like to thank Gerrit and Thabo for supporting us and promoting a cause so dear to our hearts, reconciliation is the only way forward in Rwanda and we are truly grateful that you will help us spread this message. To learn more about the upcoming documentary or to contribute to filming costs please visit Gerrit’s website:
http://www.thewordfan.org/?page_id=239.