On Wednesday, October 25th, Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) held a hybrid event exploring the impact of youth alienation and popular culture on effective peacebuilding, CVE, and DDR efforts. The event showcased a new book by Marc Sommers, We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror, and War in Sierra Leone. The book examines the extraordinary impact of reggae legend Bob Marley, rap luminary Tupac Shakur and the John Rambo action movies on prewar resistance, terror-based warfare and the postwar peace in Sierra Leone. A follow-on panel discussion surfaced challenges and opportunities concerning working with youth in our peacebuilding efforts, responding to terror-focused warfare by insurgent and violent extremist groups, and engaging with ex-combatants.
Speakers:
Marc Sommers, International Consultant in Youth, Peacebuilding, Education, Security, and CVE
Saji Prelis, Director, Children and Youth Programs, Search for Common Ground
Liz Hume, Executive Director, Alliance for Peacebuilding
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