The Guardian Hails Jacaranda as a Powerful Exploration of Healing After the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda

British newspaper The Guardian has praised Jacaranda, the latest novel by French-Rwandan author Gaël Faye, describing it as a bold and deeply moving exploration of healing, identity and the limits of forgiveness in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In a review published on 31 July 2026, critic Rachel Seiffert highlights how the novel follows Milan, a young French-Rwandan whose journey to uncover his family's hidden past gradually leads him to Rwanda. Through his experiences, the story examines the long-lasting emotional and social consequences of the genocide acr

British newspaper The Guardian has praised Jacaranda, the latest novel by French-Rwandan author Gaël Faye, describing it as a bold and deeply moving exploration of healing, identity and the limits of forgiveness in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In a review published on 31 July 2026, critic Rachel Seiffert highlights how the novel follows Milan, a young French-Rwandan whose journey to uncover his family's hidden past gradually leads him to Rwanda. Through his experiences, the story examines the long-lasting emotional and social consequences of the genocide across generations. According to the review, Milan's life changes after meeting his cousin Claude, a survivor of the genocide who arrives in France for medical treatment. As he grows older, Milan returns to Rwanda several times, where he builds relationships with survivors, learns about his family's history and struggles to understand questions of identity, truth and reconciliation. The novel also explores Rwanda's Gacaca courts, portraying their role in seeking justice and encouraging reconciliation while acknowledging the emotional complexity of confronting painful memories and forgiveness. Seiffert commends Faye's storytelling for giving a human face to the resilience of survivors and for examining the difficult realities of rebuilding lives after mass violence. She concludes that Jacaranda is an uncompromising and thought-provoking work that explores both the possibilities and the limits of forgiveness. Gaël Faye, who is widely known for his acclaimed debut novel Small Country, continues to draw on themes of memory, belonging and identity in his latest literary work.