Peacebuilding is a long term process that requires collective efforts through development of initiatives to address root causes of conflict in order to reinforce post-conflict re-construction and restoration. Language is one of the initiatives that has been used not only as a means of communication, but as a link between individuals and communities at large, it can be used as a means of giving, receiving and in some cases hiding information.
In his article ‘the role of language in conflict and conflict resolution’ Taylor (2014) explores the relationship between ‘thought and talk’ demonstrating that basic language has an intense effect in terms of community and individual perceptions which in turn shape language.
Drawing from experiences shared by officials from UNMISS civil affairs who attended a study visit under Peacebuilding Institute (PBI), South Sudan has over 60 indigenous language’s and when messages are transmitted into different local languages some of the information gets distorted.
Rwanda on the other hand has one native language which has served as a unifying factor in post genocide Rwanda. As narrated by a female participant who is a member of the peace builder’s space for peace in Rulindo district; “before joining this group I was so bitter, I would use hurtful language unknowingly which made everyone around me despise me. At that time, I didn’t know I was wounded and that my actions were as a result of my wounds. Through my participation in this group I realized that all along I had been using wounding language and this affected those around me. I’m a changed person; I now know how to address my fellow youth using peaceful language”.
According to the 2001 census, ‘Kinyarwanda is spoken by 99% of the Rwandan population’ which makes it a defining factor in terms of social and cultural identity, within and between groups as narrated by Alphonse a member of Rweru reconciliation village in Bugesera district. “During the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis we were stripped of our identity, being a Tutsis was considered a crime, I and my family had no sense of belonging, we were refugees without an identity. Today I feel proud to be called a Rwandan especially when I look back at how we suffered as a result of our identity 25 years ago”.
Never Again Rwanda’s dialogue approach has been a linking factor between individuals from diverse backgrounds considering the fact that Kinyarwanda is widely used as a means of communication. In process, youth and community members have developed a sense of belonging, understanding, empathy and hope for the future.
“I realized that most of the group members identify with my wounds, we all went through similar sufferings and that’s why I feel comfortable sharing my heavy wounds with the group. This group is the family I yearned to have”-female participant, Turuhurane space for peace.
Language can be a dividing but also a connecting and uniting factor among communities, based on the functionality of language as a tool of communication and as an expression of identity, these two roles are of significant importance for peace to prevail.