This year Global Citizen NOW once again succeeds in bringing together enthusiastic, action-oriented, change-makers from across the globe. In a virtual conversation co-presented by OkayAfrica, veteran journalist and Areya Media (OkayAfrica’s parent company) CEO Isha Sesay hosted Rwanda President , to discuss the Kwibuka 30 initiative - a 100-day commemoration of the killings during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi - how a country’s past doesn’t define its people, and why music is so important for economic growth.

Here are four standout quotes from their discussion at the 2024 Global Citizen NOW:

April 7th marked 30 years since the Genocide [against the Tutsi], and the wounds are still very deep. Rwanda chose peace, unity, and reconciliation. Our tragic past does not define who we are as a people. Has the world learnt the lessons? Unfortunately, I’m inclined to say no. To this day, perpetrators and supporters are attempting to rewrite the facts about our history. With social media, this trend is becoming even worse. On the global stage we're seeing more and more radicalisation and extremism. Many times, powerful countries deliberately choose to do nothing, and yet, there is a lot of lecturing on human rights, and so many things. What happened to us can happen to anyone else. We shouldn’t take for granted our responsibility to ensure that ‘Never Again’ is not an empty slogan.