A History of Rwanda: From the Monarchy to Post-genocidal Justice provides a complete history of Rwanda, from the precolonial abanyiginya kingdom, through the German and Belgian colonial periods and subsequent independence, and then the devastating 1994 genocide and reconstruction, right up to the modern day.
Based on extensive archival research, this book provides new insights and corrects many popular stereotypes about Rwanda, aiming to go beyond the polarized and heated debates focused on the genocide and the events that followed. Readers will get a clear and broad picture of Rwanda’s history and the social and political contexts that have defined the county from the pre-colonial period onwards. Embedding Rwanda’s history in the regional context, this book avoids simple moral judgements and instead shows where and when Rwanda differed from its neighbours and how the country’s history fits into larger debates about colonialism, genocide, ethnicity, race and development.
Offering a full and balanced exploration of Rwanda’s rich and paradoxical history, this book will be an important read for researchers and students of African history, genocide studies, transitional justice, colonialism, and political and social anthropology.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. The abanyiginya kingdom 2. Triple Colonisation: The White Fathers, the Royal Court, and German Rule 3. Rwanda under Belgian Rule 4. The Rise of Ethno-politics 5. The Hutu Nation State 6. The Genocide and its Consequences 7. Modern Rwanda
About the Author :
Klaus Bachmann is Professor of Social Sciences at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland. His research focuses on Transitional Justice, International Justice and German colonialism in Africa. He is the author of Genocidal Empires. German Colonialism in Africa and the Third Reich (2018).
Review :
“A History of Rwanda from the Monarchy to Post-genocidal Justice is an essential scholarly publication that offers a thoughtful exploration of Rwanda’s rich, albeit tragic, history.”
Agbor, M.F. (2025). Book Review of Klaus Bachmann, A History of Rwanda from the Monarchy to Post-genocidal Justice, 2023. In African Studies Review.:1-2. doi:10.1017/asr.2025.14
