The Kigali Classroom: GU-Q Students Dive into Rwanda’s History and Statecraft

Twelve students from Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) took their learning beyond the classroom with an unforgettable week in Rwanda. As part of the immersive course Statecraft and Society in Rwanda: 16th–21st Century, taught by African history expert Dr. Phoebe Musandu, the trip offered a powerful blend of academic insight and real-world experience. From exploring the legacies of pre-colonial kingdoms to understanding modern governance and development, students engaged deeply with Rwanda’s complex past and dynamic present—connecting history to lived realities on the ground.

During their visit, students engaged directly with Rwandan institutions, leaders, and communities, gaining firsthand insights into the country’s historical evolution, cultural heritage, and ongoing transformation. 

“Learning about Rwanda’s past from the people living its present was powerful, as history hits different when it’s lived, not just learned,” shared Nafisa Sagdullaeva, a GU-Q student from the Class of 2026. “What stayed with me most was the way people carry the past with honesty, but also look forward with purpose. The strength, clarity, and care in how Rwanda has rebuilt itself taught me so much about resilience, leadership, and the quiet power of choosing unity every day.”

Key components of the itinerary included visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Rwanda’s Parliament, the University of Rwanda, and various cultural landmarks. The group also explored Rwanda’s renowned conservation efforts at Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park, and the Ethnographic Museum and the King’s Palace Museum.

“The history of Rwanda offers many lessons to us all,” shared Associate Professor Musandu. The Rwandese are working diligently to overcome the dysfunction and division that led to the genocide against the Tutsis of 1994; to heal themselves, build a nation of equals, develop the country, and create a Rwanda that all citizens have a vested interest in nurturing and protecting. The course and the travel itinerary gave our international affairs students the opportunity to unpack those lessons across six centuries of Rwandese history. I’m grateful for everyone who made this wholesome and memorable trip possible.”

As GU-Q celebrates 20 years of excellence in Qatar, this experiential learning course exemplifies its enduring commitment to global engagement and its mission to prepare students to lead with purpose in an interconnected world.