An ordinary man is 2006 the autobiography of paul rusesabagina, the manager of a belgianowned rwandan hotel. The biggest impact was the greatest hero in his life, his father. An ordinary man paul rusesabagina for former hotel manager paul rusesabagina, words are the most powerful weapon in the human arsenal. Rusesabaginas involvement in subversion against rwanda. This was a biopic about a nobody who became a somebody during the rwandan genocide, a bloody crossroads for a country with deepseated ethnic. Over 100 days, some 800,000 people were slaughtered, most hacked to death by machete.
This is the powerful story of paul rusesabagina and how he survived the rwandan genocide, whilst trying to help as many others at the same time. Nov 17, 2011 i f true, the story of paul rusesabagina, as told in the 2004 film hotel rwanda, would be truly inspirational. Paul rusesabagina s visit to a martin luther king memorial in wassenaar, the netherlands, later today, is received with shock and anger by certain members of the rwandan diaspora. Paul was born to a family of farmers on june 15, 1954. Hotel rwanda is a 2004 drama film directed by terry george. The writing style is extremely easy to read, even if the subject matter makes for harrowing and even uncomfortable reading at times. An ordinary man makes clear that the most famous hero of the rwandan genocide survived above all because of his strength of character and his capitalist wits. Kigali reuters to much of the outside world, paul rusesabagina is a hero who saved 1,200 people from genocide in events depicted in the oscarnominated film hotel rwanda. Rwandan genocide survivor paul rusesabagina speaks at. Paul has established the hotel rwanda rusesabagina foundation which works on preventing future genocides and raising awareness of the genocides within africa. As rwanda was thrown into chaos during the 1994 genocide, rusesabagina, a hotel manager, turned the luxurious hotel milles collines into a refuge for more than.
An interview with paul rusesabagina about the rwandan genocide and his memoir, an ordinary man. Congo, the rwandan genocide, and the making of a continental catastrophe by. This week the show profiles paul rusesabagina, who saved the lives of 1,200 people during the rwandan genocide, his story portrayed in the 2004 film hotel rwanda. A remarkable account of the amazing life story of the man who inspired the film hotel rwanda readers who were moved and horrified by hotel rwanda will respond even more intensely to paul rusesabagina s unforgettable autobiography. The movie hotel rwanda shows how rusesabagina, played by don cheadle, saved the lives of more than 1,200 people during the 1994 rwandan genocide. It was adapted from a screenplay cowritten by george and keir pearson, and stars don cheadle and sophie okonedo as hotelier paul rusesabagina and his wife tatiana. He is known for hiding and protecting 1,268 people during the 1994 rwandan genocide. Rusesabagina s story, written with the aid of journalist tom zoellner, centers on the struggles rusesabagina and his family overcame to survive the inhumane, racially motivated genocide that occurred in rwanda in 1994a story later. May 17, 2016 paul rusesabaginas family legacy played a key role in the successful saving of 1,268 people in a hotel built to hold 200. Rusesabaginas story, written with the aid of journalist tom zoellner, centers on the struggles rusesabagina and his family overcame to survive the inhumane, racially motivated genocide that occurred in rwanda in 1994a story later.
Inside the walls of the hotel mille collines, paul rusesabagina gave shelter to 1,268 people. Nobody was wounded or beaten in the mille collines p. I read an ordinary man while my wife and i were in. An autobiography, though, isnt a book about the rwandan massacre. In 1994 paul rusesabagina, a hutu manager of a luxury hotel in rwanda, sheltered over 1,200 people, including his own tutsi wife and children, saving their lives at a time when extremists massacred more than 800,000. A rwandan hotel manager employed by sabena to run one of the most important properties in kigali, paul knew all the movers and shakers and how to keep them happy.
Paul rusesabagina, a former rwandan hotel manager who protected 1,268 people from the 1994 rwandan genocide, was born in 1954 in a hutu family of farmers. Paul rusesabagina born 1954 is a rwandan humanitarian. Paul rusesabagina and his efforts in the rwandan genocide. Whoever tries to raise a voice is silenced by this word genocide. Paul worked at the hotel des mille collines and then the diplomat hotel. Paul rusesabagina was not born, raised, nor educated to be a hero or a humanitarian. Good books and films about the rwandan genocide orange. Paul continues to save the lives of many and inspire action from people across the globe to put an end to genocide and to educate about the rwandan genocide and its aftermath. Paul rusesabagain is not just an ordinary man, but is a hero. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A hutu manager of a luxury hotel in rwanda, he sheltered over. This was a biopic about a nobody who became a somebody during the rwandan genocide, a bloody crossroads for a country with deepseated ethnic frictions. Here is a rwandan who faced down the militia to protect the terrorised families who.
The rwandan civil war was completely fucking nuts conservative estimates suggest that over 800,000 people were killed in the span of just 100 days. As his country was torn apart by violence during the rwandan genocide of 1994, hotel manager rusesabagina the oskar schindler of africarefused to. Mar 05, 2019 i do not understand the claim that paul rusesabagina was responsible for saving the lives of those rwandans trapped at hotel des mille collines. As an inspiring keynote speaker, audiences are left on the edge of their seats, thrilled by his incredible story of bravery and determination. The riveting life story of hotel manager paul rusesabagina who, as his country was being torn apart by violence during the rwandan genocide of 1994, sheltered more than 12,000 members of the tutsi clan and hutu moderates, while. For many viewers, it was the first time that they had heard about the genocide in rwanda. An ordinary man audiobook by paul rusesabagina, tom. Hotel rwanda without the hollywood ending linda melvern. The remarkable life story of the man who inspired the film hotel rwanda readers who were moved and horrified by hotel rwanda will respond even more intensely to. Mar 12, 2020 the title of this book may be an ordinary man, but paul rusesabagina played an extraordinary role in 1994 when, like schindler during the holocaust, he saved the lives of over a 1,000 rwandans from sure death in the genocide in that country.
Don cheadle portrays paul rusesabagina, a hotel general manager who saves more than 1,000 tutsis and hutus from murder by providing for them in the belgianrun hotel he manages hotel des mille collines. It is clear from the book, however, that the seeds of the genocide had already been sown before that by government propaganda and earlier violent battles for power between hutus and tutsis in rwanda and in neighboring burundi. Yet in the midst of this ridiculous insanity, one man paul rusesabagina managed to overcome the odds and save the lives of over a thousand people without even so much as lifting a firearm. Paul rusesabagina, a manager at a belgianowned luxury hotel in kigali, rwandas capital, is as skilled at pleasing the hotels mostly white guests as he is at currying favor with the rwandan army officers who frequent the hotel bar and the local businessmen. In 1994, paul rusesabagina was a young man who was going places. Now his story is being told in the oscarnominated film hotel rwanda. Weve failed to learn from history as a hotel manager in rwanda, paul rusesabagina sheltered more than a thousand people, saving their lives during the 1994 genocide. Jul 14, 2008 hotel rwanda tells the true story of one mans courage in the midst of this genocide. Paul rusesabagina, the humanitarian upon whom the film hotel rwanda is based, will deliver the keynote speech for dreamweeks january 10. Book paul rusesabagina for speaking, events and appearances.
As his country was torn apart by violence during the rwandan genocide of 1994, hotel manager rusesabagina the oskar schindler of africarefused to bow to the madness that surrounded him. Paul rusesabagina harbored over a thousand refugees from rebel forces and used his wit, deception and bribery to ensure the safety of those in his care. At that time, rusesabagina was the hotel manager at hotel des mille collines in kigali. Who is paul rusesabagina, a pure villain exploiting the. Theres a new book thats come out about hotel rwanda entitled hotel rwanda or the tutsi genocide as seen by hollywood which is coauthored by a rwandan journalist and the public relations advisor to president kagame. Paul rusesabagina was born 15 june 1954 is a rwandan humanitarian who, while working as a concierge at the hotel des mille collines in kigali, hid and protected 1,268 hutu and tutsi refugees from the interahamwe militia during the rwandan genocide. He protected over 1,000 refugees, housing them at the hotel des mille collines in kigali. As rwanda was thrown into chaos during the 1994 genocide, rusesabagina, a hotel manager, turned the luxurious hotel milles collines into a.
Oprah talks to paul rusesabagina, who saved more than 1,200 lives and inspired the film hotel rwanda, about his experiences during the rwandan slaughter of 1994, survival, and resolving conflict with words. Jan 05, 2015 for two months of his life, paul rusesabagina held insanity at bay as he watched his country fall into the grips of genocide in 1994. Paul rusesabagina bio, wife, children, family, rwandan genocide. The man behind don cheadles character in hotel rwanda.
A remarkable account of the amazing life story of the man who inspired the film hotel rwanda. Paul rusesabagina has never considered himself a hero or an activist, even though his actions saved the lives of more than a thousand people. The title of this book may be an ordinary man, but paul rusesabagina played an extraordinary role in 1994 when, like schindler during the holocaust, he saved the lives of over a 1,000 rwandans from sure death in the genocide in that country. Based on the rwandan genocide, which occurred during the spring of 1994, the film documents rusesabagina s efforts to save the lives of his family and. Additionally, rusesabagina has criticized, in this book and elsewhere, the current rwandan government of paul kagame, the onetime r.
None of those refugees were hurt or killed during the attacks. Paul rusesabagina on innerviews with ernie manouse. Rwandan patriotic front rebel leader whose forces prevailed in the civil war, and who has served as president of rwanda since 2000. Paul rusesabagina, no ordinary man twelve years ago, hutu militias began a slaughter in rwanda that left at least 800,000 people dead. The rwandan genocide is a dark part of rwandas history that saw the death of between 800,000 and 1 million rwandans in just 100 days. Every single one of them survived the rwandan genocide.
Linda melvern is an investigative researcher who published books on the 1994 genocide, including a people betrayed, and conspiracy to murder. This is a book about humanity at its very worst and how an ordinary man can affect. Rusesabagina had originally trained to be a pastor, but as an industrious young man, he decided there was little opportunity in the clergy and instead found a career in a multinational. The following year, paul started the hotel rwanda rusesabagina foundation hrrf to provide financial assistance to the women and children affected by the genocides in rwanda and other african. It talked about what happened during the rwandan genocide and i hope everyone is blessed with the opportunity to read this book. As the manager of a luxury hotel, paul rusesabagina saved 1 200 lives during the rwandan genocide. As rusesabagina himself accurately points out, nobody was killed. A survivor of the rwandan genocide twenty years ago says the hero of hollywoods hotel rwanda is a creation of fiction.
Bush r presents his presidential medal of freedom to paul rusesabagina, who sheltered people at a hotel he managed during the 1994 rwandan genocide, at a ceremony in the east. I f true, the story of paul rusesabagina, as told in the 2004 film hotel rwanda, would be truly inspirational. Ravenna book club an ordinary man by paul rusesabagina. Twenty years after the rwandan genocide, with paul rusesabagina. Readers who were moved and horrified by hotel rwanda will respond even more intensely to paul rusesabaginas unforgettable autobiography. In 2004, the academy awardnominated movie hotel rwanda lionized hotel manager paul rusesabagina for singlehandedly saving the lives of all who sought refuge in the hotel des mille collines during the genocide against the tutsi in 1994. The rwandan genocide is a dark part of rwanda s history that saw the death of between 800,000 and 1 million rwandans in just 100 days. Apr 06, 2006 paul rusesabagina, no ordinary man twelve years ago, hutu militias began a slaughter in rwanda that left at least 800,000 people dead. As rwanda was thrown into chaos during the 1994 genocide, rusesabagina, a hotel manager, turned the luxurious hotel milles collines into a refuge for more than 1,200 tutsi and moderate hutu refugees, while fending off their wouldbe killers. He was the manager of the hotel mille collines in rwanda that sheltered members of the tutsi clan and hutu sympathizers in the middle of horrific slaughter. More than 700 members of the university and surrounding community attended his talk in rackham auditorium on march 27, 2014. One of britains leading investigative journalists, linda melvern, has dubbed the content of paul rusesabagina s book, an ordinary man as a deviation from the facts surrounding the 1994 genocide. Book paul rusesabagina real life hero from hotel rwanda. His voice, his personality, his clearsightedness all come through brilliantly in this cowritten autobiography.
Before working in the hotel business, rusesabagina went to a missionary school in central rwanda and attended the faculty of theology in cameroon. Your book suggests that you did nothing extraordinary. The book shows how fragile was paul rusesabaginas position at the hotel rwanda. If the story told in the 2004 film, hotel rwanda, is true, then paul rusesabagina is a reallife hero of the rwandan genocide.
Humanitarian, paul rusesabagina, is highly respected for his impactful work during the rwandan genocide. In fact, he still believes that he was just doing his job, as hotel manager. Books on rwanda genocide if you want to learn more about the genocide in rwanda, these are the books to read. This keynote lecture is part of the ipc commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the rwandan genocide. Paul rusesabagina biography, personal life,the rwandan. As rwanda was thrown into chaos during the 1994 genocide, rusesabagina, a hotel manager, turned the luxurious hotel milles. The life story of paul rusesabagina, the man whose heroism inspired the film hotel rwanda. Twenty years after the rwandan genocide, paul rusesabagina, the hutu hotel manager who sheltered and protected over 1,200 people from the 100day massacre, visited the ford school to share his story. In 2004, hotel rwanda was released to high critical acclaim. Paul rusesabagina, whose story inspired hotel rwanda, talks. Rusesabagina also served as special consultant to united artists and lions gate films production of hotel rwanda, which also starred sophie okonedo, joaquin phoenix and nick nolte. Paul rusesabagina simple english wikipedia, the free. The rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the tutsi, was a mass slaughter of tutsi, twa, and moderate hutu in rwanda, which took place between 7 april and 15 july 1994 during the rwandan civil war. An ordinary man by paul rusesabagina, tom zoellner.
A survivor of the 1994 rwandan genocide reveals what really went on at the famed hotel des mille collines. Confronting killers with a combination of diplomacy, flattery, and deception, he offered. Paul rusesabagina bio, wife, children, family, rwandan. Readers who were moved and horrified by hotel rwanda will respond even more intensely to paul rusesabagina s unforgettable autobiography. Confronting killers with a combination of diplomacy, flattery, and deception, he offered shelter to more than. Apr 06, 2006 this is the powerful story of paul rusesabagina and how he survived the rwandan genocide, whilst trying to help as many others at the same time. For good and for evil, as was the case in the spring of 1994 in rwanda. Jan 12, 2018 the rwandan genocide of 1994 was a 100day mass slaughter of the ethnic tutsi under a hutumajority government. Paul has even written a book an ordinary man which details his life and the events that took place in rwanda. The riveting life story of hotel manager paul rusesabagina who, as his country was being torn apart by violence during the rwandan genocide of 1994, sheltered more than 12,000 members of the tutsi clan and hutu moderates, while homicidal mobs raged outside with machetes. The film takes place in rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. I was doing the job i was entrusted to do by the sabena corporationthat was my greatest and only pride in the matter.