Hutu killers sang his songs as they slaughtered Tutsis in Rwanda and in 2008, judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) found him guilty of incitement to commit genocide. On Thursday, the UN court’s appeals chamber upheld the conviction of Rwandan troubadour Simon Bikindi, along with his sentence of 15 years in prison.

By Thijs Bouwknegt

Singer

Simon Bikindi is accused of conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide (or, alternatively, complicity in genocide), direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. Identity

• Born in 1954 in Rwerere commune, Gisenyi prefecture.
• Director of Irindiro Ballet.
• Official in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Charges

After having tried high-ranking officers, ministers, businessmen, priests, journalists, local officials and militiamen, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is in uncharted waters. On September 11, the most famous rwandese troubadour of his generation will stand trial for genocide.