I didn’t weep simply because I thought they were going to do the same to us. The killers asked, "Are there any Tutsi boys among you? No Tutsi boy can remain alive!" Then came a man who told to the group to let us go. I was able to leave with my children and go home. Some neighbours were surprised to see me still alive. I think they would have preferred to see me dead. I was feeling really hungry as were my children, but it was too dangerous to go to the plantations. I then said to myself that I have nothing left to lose. I could die anyway. So I went to the plantations to get a bunch of bananas.

Suddenly I heard my husband. They were beating him and he was crying. I felt frightened and left the bananas right there. Later I saw his body near the house. He had just been killed. It was Saturday. I got my children and we went to hide in the bush. I didn’t think about eating again. Even though I was pregnant, and my children were also very young at the time, we passed days without food.

We came across a hyena in the bush. Instead of being afraid or running away, I just looked at it and said quietly, "go away." I knew that if I cried or shouted, the killers will have heard me and come to kill me and my family. I can’t tell you enough about what I endured, it’s incredible.

Eventually we got to Paul and he took us into his house. There were thirty-five of us. He used to have a bar where people came to drink beer. But from the time he took us into his house, he refused to sell beer again. We stayed there many days. He and his wives and children took care of us.

Paul: I told them to keep quiet and not to be afraid of anything as long as I was here. I looked after them. I fed them. I fetched water for them so could take a bath. My wives gave them body oil. When I had to hide them in another place, I brought them food over there. Whatever I could get, I gave them.

When the mob arrived to my house I could see that they were excited by the killing! The situation was difficult to manage. I knew that if I was caught protecting Tutsi, I could be murdered along with them. But I refused to give them up. I asked the killers "Why are you causing trouble here? I am a Hutu just like you. Why don't you go and look for the Tutsi in their homes."