Northeastern Illinois University Hosts Photography Exhibit on Burundi Genocide Survivors

Exhibit features portraits and stories of those who endured the 1972 genocide in Burundi, Africa.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:48pm

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Northeastern Illinois University's Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center is hosting a photography exhibit titled "Echoes of Silence: Portraits of Pain, Reflections of Resilience" through March 23, 2026. The exhibit features portraits of survivors of the 1972 genocide in Burundi, Africa, as well as other images taken on study trips to Burundi with Northeastern students, faculty and staff between 2023 and 2025.

Why it matters

The 1972 genocide in Burundi has received little attention, and this exhibit aims to give a voice to the survivors and raise awareness of this tragic event. The exhibit is part of Northeastern's efforts to engage students and the community with global human rights issues.

The details

The free and public exhibit will be held in the University's Ronald Williams Library. It is both an artistic and educational initiative, emphasizing the stories and dignity of the genocide survivors. Northeastern is also home to the only oral history archive at a university devoted to survivors of the 1972 Burundi genocide.

  • The exhibit runs from March 13 to March 23, 2026.
  • Northeastern students and faculty have traveled to Burundi to meet with survivors between 2023 and 2025.

The players

Jeanine Ntihirageza

Director of the GHRAD Center at Northeastern Illinois University and a survivor of the 1972 genocide in Burundi.

Viktor Gerasimovski

A Northeastern student who traveled to Burundi with Dr. Ntihirageza in 2024 and 2025 to photograph the survivors.

Katrina E. Bell-Jordan

President of Northeastern Illinois University.

Northeastern Illinois University

A public university in Chicago that is hosting the "Echoes of Silence" photography exhibit.

Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) Center

A center at Northeastern Illinois University that examines genocide in Africa and the African Diaspora.

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What they’re saying

“There has been a deep silence around the 1972 genocide of the Hutu people in Burundi. There is such power in seeing the images and hearing the stories of survivors. It is also incredibly moving to work with Northeastern Illinois University students, faculty and staff members to go to Africa, meet with survivors, and truly listen to their stories and let them know they are not forgotten.”

— Jeanine Ntihirageza, Director of the GHRAD Center (PR Newswire)

“'Echoes of Silence' is both an artistic and educational initiative, asking not only what we remember, but how we teach, learn, and lead in the aftermath of collective trauma. The photographs emphasize color and presence — rejecting erasure and restoring dignity to stories too often left out of formal curricula and public discourse.”

— Viktor Gerasimovski, Northeastern student (PR Newswire)

“At Northeastern Illinois University, we prepare students to engage thoughtfully with the world. This exhibition reflects NEIU's commitment to academic inquiry, human rights, and providing our diverse students with meaningful opportunities to learn from global histories and experiences.”

— Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, President of Northeastern Illinois University (PR Newswire)

What’s next

The exhibit will continue to be on display at Northeastern Illinois University's Ronald Williams Library through March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

This photography exhibit shines a light on a lesser-known genocide and gives a voice to the survivors, demonstrating Northeastern Illinois University's commitment to human rights education and engaging students with global issues.