Preserving the past. Connecting generations. Building the future.
Explore photographs, documents, documentaries, videos, testimonies and research — organized so you can trace history through sources and evidence, not just stories.
Search by topic, person, place, event or date
Six ways into the archive, each connected to the others by the events, people and places they document.
Historical photographs and visual collections from across the country and its diaspora.
ExploreHistorical documents, publications, reports and archival materials, sourced and dated.
ExploreRecorded oral histories and personal experiences, preserved in people's own words.
ExplorePhotographs, documents, testimonies, video and research connected to the growth of Rwanda's capital — from a colonial administrative post to the city it is today.
Explore CollectionSelect a period to see the events, photographs, documents and testimonies connected to it.
Preserving the memories and experiences of generations before they are lost.
Educational videos and documentaries exploring Rwanda's past and present.
Primary sources — reports, publications and official records — with their provenance attached.
A growing gallery of photographs, each linked to its date, location, source and context.
Purpose-built entry points for the three groups who use the archive most.
Find dated, sourced material for assignments and independent learning, organized by topic and period.
Explore StudentsCurated collections, testimonies and documents suited to teaching Rwanda's history at different levels.
Explore TeachersAccess documents, publications and archival collections with full provenance for citation.
Explore ResearchWe believe historical research should go beyond "I heard this" or "someone posted this."
Rwanda Historical Archive connects historical resources to their sources, references and available context, helping people explore information responsibly. The platform does not itself determine historical truth — historians, archivists, researchers and institutional partners take part in reviewing and governing what is published here.
Learn About Our Review ProcessDo you have historical photographs, documents, research or an oral history that should be preserved? Submissions go through our review and permissions process before publication.
Rwanda's history exists in archives, books, photographs, documents, research, documentaries and the memories of its people. Rwanda Historical Archive brings these resources together in one digital environment so they can be easier to discover, study and preserve for future generations.
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