Rat Roads: One Man’s Incredible Journey

by Jacques Pauw

In this extraordinary book, celebrated journalist Jacques Pauw gives a human face to some of the most tumultuous events in recent African history. Rat Roads chronicles the remarkable journey of Kennedy Gihana, a young Tutsi man who fought against the genocidaires in Rwanda, but was part of an army that committed horrifying atrocities in Africa’s bloodiest conflict.
Seeking education instead of war, he walked thousands of kilometres to South Africa, where he slept in parks, lived on the street and worked as a low-paid security guard until he had saved enough money to enrol for a law degree. In 2011 he took the podium at the University of Pretoria to receive a master’s degree in international law.
Rat Roads combines many strands of life in Africa. Besides being the chronicle of one man’s incredible journey, it addresses issues such as civil conflict, xenophobia and the plight of refugees. It also explores the nature of war crimes and guilt, and gives insight into present-day Rwanda, showing how one tyranny has replaced another.
Rat Roads is a searing story of hardship and survival, and an unforgettable tale of courage and triumph.

Genres: Biography, Africa, Nonfiction

453 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2012

About the author

South African journalist and author Jacques Pauw was a founder member of the anti-apartheid Afrikaans newspaper Vrye Weekblad in the late 1980s, where he exposed the Vlakplaas police death squads.

He worked for some of the country’s most esteemed publications before becoming a documentary filmmaker, producing documentaries on wars and conflicts in Rwanda, Burundi, Algeria, Liberia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, among other countries.

When he left journalism in 2014, he was the head of investigations at Media24 newspapers. He has won the CNN African Journalist of the Year Award twice, the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting in the US, Italy’s Ilaria Alpi and the Nat Nakasa award for bravery and integrity in journalism.

He is the author of five books: four nonfiction and one fiction. They are In the Heart of the Whore, Into the Heart of Darkness, Dances with Devils, Rat Roads and Little Ice Cream Boy. Three of his books have been shortlisted for major literary awards.

Reviews

[Ray Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant piece of investigative writing by one of the country's foremost investigative journalists, Jacques Pauw. He tells the story of Kennedy, a Rwandan who participated in the liberation of his country from the genocidaires, committing his own atrocities along the way. The story of Kennedy's life as a brutal soldier of liberation and his subsequent disillusionment and 5000 km trek to South Africa is compulsive reading. But what makes this book great is the strength and maturity of the author, who never flinches from revealing his subject's dark side with honesty, despite being dependent on him for the story. The book tells a human story, but also tells the tragic story of Rwanda and its cycles of ethnic genocide with an historian's eye.

[David Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

South Africa is reading "The President's Keepers" as I type this - Jacques Pauw's courageous investigation into the extensive corruption of the ANC's leader, Jacob Zuma. I started Rat Roads, published in 2012, at roughly the same time the State Security Agency threatened to ban Pauw's latest book. I will certainly read "The President's Keeper," partly because Jacques Pauw is such an exceptional writer. Rat Roads deserves every star I have given it and more. There are so many reasons to read this book, including paying tribute to a man, Kennedy Gihana, who did much more than defy the odds in order to survive and prosper. It's also a balanced picture of what happened in the lead up to the Rwandan genocide and all the nefarious acts of murder and human rights abuses committed by that darling of the West, Paul Kagame. There was a time when Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe got away with murder in much the same way. Bravo. One of the best books I have ever read. I read a lot.

[Shané · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kennedy Gihana has led an extraordinary life and Rat Roads tells his story with brutal honesty. At an early age, Kennedy is challenged more than children should be, but in that sense his story is probably not unique in Africa. What makes him a remarkable man are his decisions and perseverance despite tremendous adversery.

Jacques Pauw manages to tell the story of Rwanda's genocide with sincerity and compassion for both victims and perpetrators. Some harrowing and downright horrifying descriptions of the bloodshed in the Great Lakes brought me to tears. How can humans do such things to one another? And how could anyone live past the trauma of their experiences? Yet, Kennedy's beliefs and unrelenting determination to achieve his goals are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Kennedy's personal experiences are well balanced with facts and historical accounts of the 1994 genocide and the events and circumstances surrounding it. It's not an easy (or fun) read, but an important and balanced piece of investigative journalism.

[Okello Ogwang · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a historian on African affairs, this must rate as one of the finest books I have ever had the pleasure to read. It is an unbelievable story that is brilliantly told by the author. Sad, harrowing and uplifting at the same time. It makes the history of our continent come alive. I live in Uganda but believe me my copy is doing the rounds amongst colleagues and students! Everyone agrees: a masterpiece.

[Bonnie Okar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough,impartial and unforgiving look into the life and historical commence of what culminated of what we now know as the Rwanda Genocide. This book will squeeze every emotion from the reader, from moments of intense sorrow, hate, disgust to moments of hope and forgiveness. A story well told of what the human can endure and still stand to conquer the day.

[zzz… · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart wrenching read.

[Pieter Janse van Vuuren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful read to the context of Rwanda and the reality of the Genocide in 1994. Told from the perception of one person's story which is clearly shows their perspective.

[Sean de la Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay - nothing as inspiring or horrific as Dances with Devils or Little Ice Cream Boy. Pauw rehashes a lot of his Rwandan experiences in the new book. The final few chapters also seemed a bit soppy.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant - a real page turner.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fascinating book which opened my eyes to the genocide in Rwanda, about which I had only the haziest view before. Makes one think about how ones environment affects ones behaviour.

[Lydia Nkutha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read - it's the first time I have fully enjoyed reading a book full of history.