Visions of Rwanda Photo Project

Joseph Furaha
Photo by Linda Smith

Joseph Furaha is a young man that survived the 1994 genocide. His parents were killed and he was left to take care of his younger siblings. He runs a small business, selling second hand clothes. Joseph has endured a lot of pain for such a young man; death, remembrance and new life feature prominently in his photos.

Joseph comments on his experience of taking photographs for the “Visions of Rwanda” project: “A big part of my images show a sad moment when I discovered the scares [bones] of my mother killed in 1994. Some of the participants cried when they saw them. I have seen several bad things, nothing can make me cry. My tears are not seen, they go inside.”
Joseph Furaha A photograph of Joseph’s nephew. Joseph photographs his shoes alongside the shoes of children. He says that he tries to make children a big part of his life because they give him joy. The teeth of Joseph’s mother are washed before burial. The remains of his late mother who was killed in the 1994 genocide were recovered just prior to the “Visions of Rwanda" project. Joseph’s aunt, the sister of his mother, sits beside the remains of Joseph’s mother.
Joseph photographs the construction of new homes being built in his community. He also captures his shadow in the photograph. A portrait of Joseph inside his clothing shop. A woman tries to uncover the bones of Joseph’s mother from the dirt. All of the remains of Joseph’s mother are laid out ready for burial. Joseph’s mother’s remains have been washed and dried before burial.
The remains of Joseph’s mother are put into a coffin for burial. Joseph photographs a wedding. The groom and the bride share a traditional drink together. Two little girls make hats out of grass. Some of the children living in Joseph’s community. A young boy carries the eggs he will sell for the day.
New homes being built in Joseph’s community. Private developments are slowly encroaching on his community in the Kagugu district of Kigali.