Not My Time to Die
Originally published as La mort ne veut pas de moi in 1997, this book was the first survivor testimony to be published about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
In 1994 Yolande was an unconventional nurse and mother of three who enjoyed wearing jeans and designer glasses. She ran her own clinic in Nyamirambo and was planning a party for her wedding anniversary. But when genocide started everything changed. Targeted because she was a successful Tutsi woman, she was separated from her family and had to flee for her life.
Mukagasana’s gripping memoir describes the betrayal of friends and help that came from surprising places. Quick-witted and courageous, Yolande never lost hope she would find her children alive.
About the Author
Yolande Mukagasana is a renowned Rwandan writer, public figure and campaigner for the remembrance of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
She has authored four books about genocide and its aftermath, performed her testimony in the iconic Rwanda 94 touring theatre production and has received numerous international prizes for her work, including the Alexander Langer Foundation Prize for Testimony and Solidarity, the American Jewish Committee Moral Courage Award and an Honourable Mention for the UNESCO Education for Peace Prize.
Her first book, La mort ne veut pas de moi, has been translated into Italian, Turkish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Hebrew and now English.
About this Translation
This collaborative translation, by King’s College London academic Dr Zoe Norridge, took five years to complete. It includes a new Afterword by Mukagasana and a Translator’s Note explaining the process for translating and updating the original French edition, 22 years after it first appeared.
Zoe Norridge is a Senior Lecturer in African and Comparative Literature at King’s College London. Author of Perceiving Pain in African Literature (2013) she researches and collaborates with Rwandan artists. In April 2014 she curated the exhibition Rwanda in Photographs: Death Then, Life Now with Mark Sealy MBE and in June 2019 she programmed events for the first Kigali Photo Fest. A BBC New Generation Thinker, in 2014 she presented award-winning BBC Radio 3 documentary Living With Memory in Rwanda and her new documentary, Rwanda’s Returnees will air on Radio 4 in autumn 2019. Zoe is also Chair of the Ishami Foundation, a member of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Expert Reference Group and an Associate Editor at Wasafiri literary magazine.
Launch in Rwanda
The book was launched at the Kigali Public Library on April 5th 2019. Rwandan Cultural Leader Carole Karemera treated audiences to musical readings with performers and musicians from Ishyo Arts Centre. She also chaired conversations between Yolande Mukagasana and translator Zoe Norridge.
Yolande has since spoken about her work at various literary and genocide-related events across Rwanda.
UK TOUR
Yolande Mukagasana is touring the UK to launch the English edition of her book July 7-10 2019. Events include:
12.30, Sunday July 7th
Book launch of Not My Time to Die at Africa Writes, British Library, London. Yolande Mukagasana, Zoe Norridge and Louise Umutoni in conversation with acclaimed writer, artist and academic Véronique Tadjo.
19.30, Monday July 8th
Book reading at Lighthouse Bookshop, Edinburgh. Tickets available through Eventbrite. Yolande Mukagasana, Zoe Norridge and Louise Umutoni in conversation with Professor Nicki Hitchcott (St Andrews) who is also launching her collection of testimonies, After the Genocide in Rwanda.
19.30, Tuesday July 9th
Book reading at Max Minerva’s Bookshop, Bristol. Tickets available from the bookshop. Yolande Mukagasana, Zoe Norridge and Louise Umutoni in conversation with Dr Ruth Bush (Bristol).
18.30, Wednesday July 10th
Book launch in the Council Room, King’s College London. Please reserve free tickets through Eventbrite. Yolande Mukagasana, Zoe Norridge and Louise Umutoni in conversation with renowned translator and academic Wangui Wa Goro and Ishami Foundation CEO Eric Murangwa Eugene MBE.
In Rwanda it is available to buy from Pages online bookstore, Ikirezi and other good bookshops.
Internationally it is being distributed by African Books Collective.
In the UK it is available directly from African Books Collective and from other bookshops including Lighthouse Bookshop (Edinburgh), Max Minerva’s (Bristol) and Amazon UK.
Yolande Mukagasana’s Other Books
Yolande's Other Books
Contact Us
For enquiries about the book and inviting Yolande Mukagasana to events please contact publisher Huza Press on: huzapress@gmail.com
For enquiries about the translation and academic research exploring Yolande Mukagasana’s work please contact translator Zoe Norridge on: zoe.norridge@kcl.ac.uk