West Africa Program Update
Program OverviewSierra Leone:
Talking Drum Studio
12 regular programs3 studio locations
Community Peacebuilding Unit
YouthCommunity RadioPeace Carnivals and Tours
Liberia:Talking Drum Studio
12 regular programs
TINAMENIMA (Community Services Unit)
Peace and Reconciliation WorkshopsDrama Outreach
Sierra Leone Case Study:Makeni Peace Carnival
December 30, 2002-January 1, 2003
Makeni Peace Carnival
Objective: To provide a forum for the community to focus on growing levels of violence in Makeni: at schools, on sports fields, in homes
BackgroundMakeni—former RUF stronghold, with large excombatant populationSFCG-SL holds outreach events to promote partnership and peacebuilding and develop local capacity
Annual Peace Carnival in Bo every EasterSteady Bongo Peace Tour (2)Makeni wanted a similar event
Coalition of Planners:National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, and ReintegrationThe PoliceThe ArmyThe Drivers’ AssociationThe Cassette Sellers’ AssociationSierra Leone Teachers UnionRadio ManknehSeveral Youth Groups
Established Action Committees
Organizing–overall planning, coordination and implementationGrounds–demarcation of field for boothsSecurity–made up of Police, Army, youth, and community membersFinance–proceeds from the gatesTicket–sales of tickets Publicity–posters, banners, and advertising
Purpose of committees
The committees established local ownership of and responsibility for the event
Provided community-based direction to strategyDeveloped local capacity
Each committee had representatives of various stakeholders
Together the stakeholders developed a theme for the peace carnival:Maintaining Law and Order in a
Post-conflict Society
Carnival Components
5 drama troupes7 cultural groups36 boothsSteady Bongo and the Cultural HeroesLive broadcastingRehabilitation of field hosting the event
Issues Addressed Law and orderDomestic violenceLocal government structuresRole of media in conflict resolutionViolence in schools and sportsHIV/AIDSLocal Partnership Board-roles and responsibilities
Local Partnership Board (LPB)Established as a community-based organizationLPB received 80% of the revenue from the eventRevenue to be used for a community development projectReport to the community required on how much money was used on what to ensure transparency and accountability
Hugely Successful!
20,000 people attended
10Million Leones generated
15 local organizations involved3 days of festivities, 14 hours a day1000’s of kudos!
Liberia Case Study:Bong County Peace and Reconciliation Workshop
October 31-November 10, 2002
Background3rd in a series of workshops between ethnic groups in Liberia’s southeastern countiesEthnicity has been exploited by political factionsLofa County conflict has largely been fueled by ethnicity
this series is to prevent a similar occurrence in the southeast
Workshops HeldMarch 2001
Sinoe County: Sarpos and Krus
March 2002Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties: Gios, Manos and Krahns
October-November 2002Bong County: Gios, Manos, Kpelles, Lormas, and Mandingos
Targeted Counties
October 2002
March 2002
March 2001
October-November Workshop
Originally scheduled for early summer, but delayed by politically-driven ethnic tension against MandingosFormat:
3 small plenary workshops: each between Mandingos and one other ethnic groupFinal large workshop among all participating ethnic groups
Purpose of the Plenary SessionsIdentified and defined the conflictConfronted immediate distrust and suspicion between groupsLaid groundwork for a frank discussion of issuesFacilitated the beginning development of relationships
Full WorkshopIncluded representatives
from each ethnic groupDiscussion addressed:
stereotypes negative and positive experiences with ethnic preferenceperceived qualities and characteristics of each ethnic group
TDS taped dialogue and interviews throughout to share with a national audience
Observations and ResultsDelegates came to the meeting open to discussion and genuinely seeking peaceParties took ground rules very seriously, enforcing the rules themselvesDelegates recognized that despite solid progress, only the surface on these conflicts has been touched, especially as ethnic tensions are exacerbated for political gain
Observations and Results cont.
The group achieved maximum capacity in participation
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Bong County’s Superintendent sent letters to all tribal governors asking that they each send 5 member delegationsIndicated incredible interest in building peace between ethnic groups
Fun FinaleTo wrap up the workshop, TINAMENIMA held a fun soccer match between community members, the joint security forces and local government leaders