The Role Of Music In Peacebuilding And Reconciliation: A Case of Kenya’s 2007/2008 Post Election Violence

The use of music in reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts has long been assumed with many times its importance and potential being unrecognized. This academic study sought to cover Kenya by assessing the various programmes and activities of actors involved in music ,within and outside Nairobi, who have used music as a tool and channel of communicating peace and dialogue particularly after the 2007/2008 elections violence that rocked the country. It therefore assessed the goals that were set in the peacebuilding efforts such as the Agenda Four items in correlation with the messages sent and campaigns undertaken by music agents in the process. This is through investigating the process in four spheres: the role of music in post conflict community dialogues; in social and economic empowerment of communities including women and youth; in trauma healing and recovery of victims; and in conflict prevention; the main hypothesis being that music has played a crucial role in the process of peacebuilding and reconciliation in the case of Kenya‟s 2007/2008 post election violence. Eight organizations and their activities were assessed and analysed. This thesis details the background, scope and objectives of the research as well as an analysis of past studies, research design and methodologies, an analysis of the data collected, findings and recommendations. This study revealed that music greatly assisted in establishing community dialogues and urged leaders to set up mechanisms that support the victims of post-election violence. Further, the self-esteem of participants, especially of women and youth, was boosted and it brought people together by encouraging them to stop fighting. Music really aided in trauma healing and recovery, however the full attainment of the recovery is dependent on other factors such as counseling and other community engagements. It was realized that such initiatives need support from government and other agencies for sustainability and consistence. Further details on findings are indicated in chapter five. The study thus observes that music has played a crucial role in the process of peacebuilding and reconciliation in the case of Kenya‟s 2007/2008 post election violence.