Aimable is Immaculée’s oldest brother, and the only other member of her immediate family who survives the genocide. He is quiet, reflective, and mature beyond his years. He is conducting postgraduate research on a scholarship in Senegal during the genocide, and thus he escapes the killings. He and Immaculée eventually reunite, although they are not at first able to talk about what happened. He works as a veterinarian and settles in Kigali with his wife and child.
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Aimable Character Timeline in Left to Tell
The timeline below shows where the character Aimable appears in Left to Tell. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: The Eternal Spring
Immaculée has three brothers. The oldest, Aimable, was born in 1965 and is wise beyond his years. When Aimable goes to boarding...
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Chapter 5: Returning Home
Immaculée’s entire family is in Mataba except Aimable, who is in Senegal after having won a scholarship to pursue postgraduate research there. Damascene...
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Chapter 9: Into the Bathroom
...one another. Immaculée is desperately worried about her family, and thanks God that at least Aimable is safe due to being abroad. Later that day, they hear the killers again, shouting...
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Chapter 19: Camp Comfort
Immaculée is desperate to talk to Aimable, who is still in Senegal. By the end of July, the war is still continuing...
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Chapter 22: The Lord’s Work
The colonel grabs some of Immaculée’s letters and suspiciously demands: “Who’s Aimable?”. Immaculée explains that he is her brother, studying in Senegal. At that moment, she spots...
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...very devout Christians. Immaculée realizes that it is finally time for her to write to Aimable, a task she has delayed because of the unbearable sorrow it will bring them both....
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Chapter 23: Burying the Dead
Aimable does not have enough money to visit Rwanda, but Immaculée assures him that he will...
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Epilogue: New Love, New Life
...with Sarah’s family, and in her spare time she volunteers at an orphanage. In 1995 Aimable returns to Rwanda. At first brother and sister find it hard to even meet each...
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