The Legacy of Ethnic Violence in Kenya and Rwanda
- Date
- 4 December 2025
- Time
- 20:00
- Location
- SPUI25
After the violence in Kenya, justice for the victims seemed within reach for a long time. Unfortunately, things turned out differently. The International Criminal Court was forced to drop its case after witnesses were bribed, intimidated, and even murdered. One of the main suspects, William Ruto, is now the president of Kenya.
Marnix de Bruyne, writer and Africa journalist, traces in his new book Als een slang je bijt, blijf je altijd bang the stories of Kenyans who experienced the violence firsthand or witnessed it. How does one live with neighbors who looted, stole cattle, burned houses, or worse — and were never punished for it? For the photo book Bloedbanden. Verzoening na de genocide in Rwanda, photographer Jan Banning and author Dick Wittenberg spent a month photographing and interviewing former enemies who found reconciliation. This evening, inspired by these two books, we reflect on the legacy of ethnic violence in Kenya and Rwanda.
SPUI25 is the academic-cultural podium of Amsterdam. Since 2007, we have been giving scientists, authors, artists and other thinkers the opportunity to shine a light on issues that occupy, inspire or concern them. In cooperation with a large number of academic and cultural partners, we organize between 250 and 300 freely accessible programs per year. These are enriching, often interdisciplinary programs that move between science and culture, fact and fiction.
SPUI25 is one of the UvA podia in the University Quarter.
