Abanyasida: Emergent Subjectivities and Socialities in Rwandan Associations for People Living with Hiv Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil Wayne State University
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Wayne State University Wayne State University Dissertations 1-1-2015 Abanyasida: Emergent Subjectivities And Socialities In Rwandan Associations For People Living With Hiv Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil Wayne State University, Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations Part of the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Van Nuil, Jennifer Ilo, "Abanyasida: Emergent Subjectivities And Socialities In Rwandan Associations For People Living With Hiv" (2015). Wayne State University Dissertations. 1383. https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/1383 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Wayne State University Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState. ABANYASIDA: EMERGENT SUBJECTIVITIES AND SOCIALITIES IN RWANDAN ASSOCIATIONS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV by JENNIFER ILO VAN NUIL DISSERTATION Submitted to the Graduate School of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2015 MAJOR: ANTHROPOLOGY Approved By: _________________________________________ Advisor Date _________________________________________ _________________________________________ __________________________________________ © COPYRIGHT BY JENNIFER ILO VAN NUIL 2015 All Rights Reserved DEDICATION For my grandmother, Wave Bearl Heyboer and the members of all the Rwandan HIV support associations ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are so many people who have assisted in the completion of this work both academically and emotionally. This process was isolating and challenging and I was fortunate to have a solid support network. Without the academic and personal support of so many mentors and friends I never would have succeeded in writing this dissertation and completing my doctorate degree. First I would like to extend my extreme gratitude to Dr. Andrea Sankar, my advisor and mentor. Andrea diligently read and reread countless reworking of these data and this work would not have been possible without her guidance and encouragement. I also deeply appreciate the comments and critique from my committee, Dr. Mark Luborsky, Dr. Todd Meyers, and Dr. Julia Gluesing. Each one gave me valuable insight for this work and helped me to not only think critically about my research topics but also place my work within the larger field of anthropology. The critique was not always easy to hear but it certainly made this dissertation stronger and for that, I am forever grateful. I also thank Jennifer Wesson, my in-country advisor and dear friend, who provided so much support. Our weekly meetings gave me insight and perspective. I also want to express my gratitude to the employees at FHI Rwanda who graciously provided an office within their Research House for me to work and hold meetings. The Research House staff, especially Emmanuel Munyambanza, provided constant advice throughout my data collection period. I also thank Felicien Rusagara, my research assistant. Felicien helped me to gain access to the associations and was instrumental in the success of the data collection. My fellow researchers in Rwanda and abroad gave me the motivation to continue writing: Josefine Larsen, Evelyne iii Kestlyn, Benjamin Chemouni, Monica Rodriguez, and many others. Your encouragement was priceless. I extend my thanks to my family and close friends in USA. It was not easy being far from home while I created a whole new life in Rwanda. I thank my parents and younger sister who traveled to Rwanda more than once to visit and experience Rwanda. I met my dear husband, Peterson Gasangwa, during my time in Rwanda so I will always remember that this experience resulted not only in an academic accomplishment but also a very personal bond. Peterson was very patient with me during endless nights of writing, reading, talking, and simply trying to understand what it all meant. I also acknowledge my firstborn son, Alden Ilo Gasangwa, who was born at the end of this journey. Alden taught me how to type one-handed while nursing and changed my perspective about life, as I became a mother in Rwanda. The research would not have been possible without financial support. I received funding from the following institutions over the course of the research: Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University (2008), Aswad Travel Award, Wayne State University (2009), Family Health International Rwanda (2009), Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS), US Department of Education (2010), Rumble Fellowship, Wayne State University (2012-2013) and the Department of Anthropology and Institute of Gerontology funding received in between for my coursework. I held a research position in Rwanda from 2013 - 2014 with the University of Liverpool working with Dr. Janneke van de Wijgert making it possible to remain in Rwanda working on new and exciting research while also writing my dissertation. Finally and importantly, the work would not have been possible without the support of RRP+ and the members of the associations who allowed me to experience their lives for a short while. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 Abanyasida......................................................................................................................1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................1 Methodology..............................................................................................................................23 Outline........................................................................................................................................26 Chapter 2 History and Context .....................................................................................................30 Gushyirahamwe ni byiza [To come together is great] ...............................................................30 The rise of Rwanda ....................................................................................................................32 The hills of Rwanda...................................................................................................................34 Ethnic divide ..............................................................................................................................38 Kinyarwanda:*the*language*that*unites* ......................................................................................40 Colonialism, Independence, and Genocide................................................................................40 The aftermath.............................................................................................................................47 Rwanda after year 2000 .............................................................................................................48 Home grown solutions ...............................................................................................................50 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................52 Chapter 3 Sample ..........................................................................................................................54 Introduction................................................................................................................................54 Site selection ..............................................................................................................................55 v Permission from the community................................................................................................59 Description of sites ....................................................................................................................62 Home visits ................................................................................................................................70 Chapter 4 The State of the Ishyirahamwe .....................................................................................76 Introduction to amashyirahamwe ..............................................................................................76 The first amashyirahamwe and RRP+ .......................................................................................82 Ishyirahamwe activities .............................................................................................................93 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................96 Chapter 5 Coming Together ..........................................................................................................97 Introduction................................................................................................................................97