Clemantine Wamariya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joyful Clemantine Wamariya
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Clemantine in Berlin, 2017
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| Born | 1988 (age 36–37) Kigali, Rwanda
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| Nationality | Rwandan, American |
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| Awards | Winner of the 2019 ALA/YALSA Alex Award |
Joyful Clemantine Wamariya (born in 1988) is a writer, speaker, and advocate for human rights. She was born in Rwanda.
When she was six years old, Clemantine had to leave her home in Kigali. This was because of the Rwandan Genocide. She and her older sister, Claire, had to flee their country. They spent several years looking for safety across Africa. Eventually, they were allowed to come to the United States as refugees.
Clemantine settled with a family near Chicago. She started school for the first time at age thirteen. In 2006, she became well-known after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show. On the show, she had a surprise reunion with her parents. After studying at Yale University, she became a storyteller. She also wrote a book about her life.
Contents
Early Life and Journey in Africa
Clemantine Wamariya was born in Rwanda. She lived in nine different countries in eastern and southern Africa as a child. Her father worked in the taxi business. Her mother was a nurse and loved gardening. Clemantine also had a kind nanny.
Fleeing the Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide started in April 1994. Clemantine was six years old. Her family heard loud noises like gunfire. Their neighbors were gone. Realizing the danger, Clemantine and her sister, Claire, were sent away. They went to their grandmother's farm in southern Rwanda.
But the farm was not safe either. People who were causing harm came to their door. Clemantine and Claire's grandmother told them to run away. They traveled at night and hid during the day. They ate fruit to survive. This way, they managed to escape Rwanda and became refugees.
Seeking Safety Across Africa
The sisters first found a safe place in a refugee camp in Burundi. But they could not stay in one place for long. There was violence in the camps. They also wanted to find a better future. So, they spent many years moving between camps.
Over six years, they moved from Burundi to Zaire, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and finally to South Africa. In 2000, they asked the International Organization for Migration for help. They were given visas to come to the United States as refugees.
Life in the United States
Clemantine and her sister were helped by World Relief. This group helps refugees settle in new places. They partnered with a family in Kenilworth, near Chicago.
Starting School and College
Once in the U.S., Clemantine started school for the first time. She was thirteen years old. She began in the sixth grade at Christian Heritage Academy. Later, she went to New Trier High School. After graduating in 2008, she studied at Yale University. She earned a degree in Comparative Literature in 2014.
Clemantine's Career
Appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show
Clemantine first became known around the world in 2006. She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show while still in high school. She and her sister Claire were invited to talk about their experiences during the genocide.
What they didn't know was that Oprah had a surprise planned. Their parents had both survived the genocide. Clemantine had talked to them on the phone. But she had not seen them in person for twelve years. The show arranged for her parents to fly from Africa. Their reunion was shown on TV. Clemantine was invited back to Oprah three more times. These appearances brought her international attention.
Becoming a Storyteller
Clemantine became interested in Storytelling in school. She shared her experiences with other students. After her Oprah appearances, groups asked her to speak. Especially groups that help people.
She gave a TED talk called War and What Comes After. She also gave speeches at events and fundraisers. While at Yale, she told her story across the U.S. for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). Because of this work, President Barack Obama asked her to join the USHMM board. She was re-appointed for a second term in 2016.
Writing a Book
After college, Clemantine moved to San Francisco. There, she met a journalist named Elizabeth Weil. Clemantine told Elizabeth about her life. They started writing an article together. It was well-received, so they decided to write a whole book.
They worked on it for two years. The book was released in 2018. It is called The Girl Who Smiled Beads. This title comes from a story her nanny told her as a child. In that story, Clemantine could control what happened. She said that Elie Wiesel's book Night inspired her. She read it in school. She also read books by Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, and W.G. Sebald. These authors helped her understand her past.
