In 1994, Rwanda was torn apart by a brutal genocide. In roughly 100 days, close to one million Rwandan citizens were murdered. In the aftermath, the population of this small African nation was nearly 70% women. Faced with an uncertain future, these women turned to their past and reclaimed their unique heritage of weaving. Drawing strength from this common history and ancient art form, brave women from both sides of the conflict organized groups of weavers, in an effort to rebuild their communities and their lives…together.

Shortly after the genocide, sisters Joy Ndunguste and Janet Nkuban offered a small shop for women to sell their baskets in their hotel. From a humble beginning under a tree in a remote village called Gitarama, the sisters organized twenty women and taught them how to weave, how to enhance their weaving skills with new design techniques and how to work together by looking beyond their ethnic differences.

Today, there are thousands of weavers employed in Rwanda belonging to smaller weaving cooperatives organized locally in the many villages that dot the landscape. Far more than charity, weaving puts income directly into the hands of Rwandan women, empowering them to take control of their own lives. These earnings are used for food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies, water purification and personal savings.

Amazingly, every weaving group consists of both Hutu and Tutsi weavers, women from both sides of the 1994 conflict. These women sit with each other, talking and laughing while their children play nearby. By weaving together they are slowly but surely healing themselves and their society.

The Division of Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs wishes to express our gratitude to all of our partners, Fairwinds Trading, Gahaya Links, Foundation for Democracy in Africa and One Love USA International for their enthusiastic support and contribution to this exhibition.