Kill the Devil: A Love Story from Rwanda, co-written by Belfast peacebuilder and novelist Dr. Tony Macaulay and Rwanda screenwriter Juvens Nsabimana, tells the love story between a survivor and a perpetrator of genocide. It reveals the remarkable progress in reconciliation in Rwanda since the horrors of 1994 – a lesson for our times and for all time.
A transcontinental and cross-cultural collaboration between a writer who grew up in Belfast during The Troubles and another who grew up in post genocide Rwanda – Kill the Devil was written collaboratively by the authors, who have both experienced survivors and perpetrators in the villages of Rwanda recounting their profound stories.
A woman and a man, nearly destroyed by extreme violence, hatred and despair, follow a rare and unexpected path, and discover extreme forgiveness, love and hope… Three fishermen pull a near lifeless woman from a lake; having suffered unimaginable loss, Patricia’s life is empty and her only motivation to go on is to bring the one responsible to justice. Always on the verge of running, a man hides from his guilt in Kigali, terrified of his anonymity being compromised and his past uncovered.
The Northern Ireland launch of Kill the Devil in Belfast (5th April) takes place a few days ahead of Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day in Rwanda (7th April) and the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (10th April).
Co-author of Kill the Devil Dr Tony Macaulay said:
“ On my visits to Rwanda I have been inspired by incredible reconciliation work. I was privileged to hear stories of forgiveness and reconciliation, something I’d never heard the like of before – certainly not where I come from. Whilst visiting Rwanda I was fortunate to meet Juvens. Following many conversations we were keen to collaborate and help shine a light on the remarkable, untold stories of reconciliation in Rwanda since the genocide in 1994, when a million people were killed in a hundred days.”
Juvens Nsabimana co-author of Kill the Devil added:
“ When I met Tony during one of his visits to Rwanda, we very quickly realised that we not only connected as storytellers but knew we would work well together. I created the screenplay idea of Kill the Devil but needed to collaborate with someone who had the experience and expertise of writing a novel. We have been on an incredible writing journey together and I am grateful to have had the opportunity collaborate with him!”
Kill the Devil: A Love Story from Rwanda is available in paperback and e-book in all good bookstores from 28th March.
