Host Duane Rockwell opens the Speakers Inc Global Showcase by introducing Pie-Pacifique’s extraordinary story. Born in Rwanda, Pie-Pacifique witnessed a street massacre at age 13 during April 1994. He recalls a haunting scene of men dragged from a church and killed, and the moment a woman pleaded with a militia member to end a victim’s suffering. The memory raises a lifelong question for him about cruelty and compassion, and the emotional complexity children should never face.

He traces earlier family turmoil, including his father’s arrests in the 1980s, release, and death, then the war starting in 1990. After the genocide, his family returned to find their home claimed by others. He became a “business boy” selling goods to support the household, and later re-entered school to obtain student papers. Despite new violence and loss, he finished high school, carried family responsibilities, and eventually left Rwanda at his mother’s urging.

A difficult migration followed. In Tanzania his money was stolen, then he moved through Mozambique, finally reaching Durban. As a car guard he learned English, sorted documents, and fought to enter university. He studied physics, led the student council, graduated, and received the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship. He worked in banking, later headed the FPD Business School, and authored “Witnessing.”

In a closing conversation with Duane, Pie-Pacifique explains healing as a continuing journey. He describes panic, cluster headaches, and the turning point when a friend asked about his “smile,” revealing a protective facade. That awareness led him to claim his voice, stand tall, and live authentically. He urges audiences to witness their own lives, peel away facades, and recognise that even painful events may hold something for them. Gratitude becomes a practice, not denial. The session ends with an invitation to use authenticity and resilience as daily leadership tools.

In this powerful and emotional interview titled I Witnessed People Being Massacred Before Me, Pie-Pacifique Kabalira-Uwase recounts his harrowing journey as a child during the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi, where he witnessed unimaginable violence and loss. Over the course of 53 minutes, he revisits the darkest moments of human cruelty—and the light that emerged from choosing compassion and reconciliation over hate.

Pie-Pacifique begins by painting a vivid picture of life before the genocide, describing his family, community, and the cultural tensions that escalated into violence. As he recalls the terror of witnessing massacres and being forced to flee for his life, his voice carries the weight of memory—but also the strength of survival.

He speaks openly about trauma, displacement, and resilience, and how years later, through self-reflection and education, he found a path toward peace and purpose. Today, as a motivational speaker, humanitarian, and advocate for forgiveness, Pie-Pacifique uses his story to inspire others to confront pain with empathy and transform suffering into growth.

The interview is not only a testimony of survival but also a profound meditation on the human capacity for healing. With vulnerability and clarity, Pie-Pacifique calls for unity, reminding audiences that reconciliation begins with individual choices. His story stands as both a warning and a beacon—proof that even in the aftermath of atrocity, humanity can prevail through courage and love.