Rwandan Survivor Recalls Father’s Death at Ndera Seminary

Why this is here: Ephraim Nkundanyirazo treated a soldier who later spared his son and daughter-in-law, recalling he “would not shed the blood of my father’s family.”

Elvis Nkundanyirazo, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, spoke on May 16th at a commemoration ceremony at the Ndera memorial site. He recounted his family’s experiences before and during the genocide, focusing on the death of his father, Ephraim Nkundanyirazo. Ephraim, a medical assistant, was one of 8,004 people killed at Ndera Seminary in Gasabo after seeking refuge there following the assassination of President Habyarimana.

The Nkundanyirazo family faced persecution well before 1994, fleeing Rwanda in 1959. Ephraim later returned and became a respected member of his community, offering medical care from his home. During the genocide, the family initially sought safety at Musave school, then was separated—Ephraim ultimately ending up at Ndera Seminary while his wife and son hid with neighbors.

Elvis learned his father believed his family was already dead when he was killed. Despite being spared by a soldier his father once treated, the family mourns the loss and continues to visit Ndera Seminary.

Speakers at the event urged students to learn from history and reject divisive ideologies, noting ongoing attempts to distort the truth about the genocide. The work of preserving accurate accounts and fostering unity continues.