On the occasion of MUAC JazzDay conference 2019, Paris

‘Commemoration is a Moment to Remember, Give Dignity, and Prevent’ :

Perspectives from the DRC,

by Tigranna Zakaryan

 

GAPM

 

April marks Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month (GAPM) – an initiative which brings together various stakeholders ranging from grassroots activists to elected officials to commemorate historical and ongoing genocides and mass atrocities. April, in particular, includes global commemorative efforts for the Armenian Genocide, the European Holocaust, the Cambodian Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, the Srebrenica Genocide, among others. While we work to maintain a degree of awareness toward these events and their impact on our collective human history, it is equally important to keep in mind communities who have, and continue to face genocide, and are now immerging in their commemorative and reconciliatory processes.

 

DRC

 

The local initiatives of Congolese civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a prime example of such efforts. In April 2018, Together We Remember (TWR) partnered with two Congolese grassroots organizations to facilitate a commemorative event in the eastern DRC. The event was spearheaded by the Goma-based organization known as Tumani Project and supported by Groupe Milima, based in Uvira. Given that this event was the first of its kind, the traditional TWR vigil-style event was not pursued. Rather, a closed-door workshop brought together local activists and civil society leaders throughout North Kivu province to brainstorm pathways for Congolese commemorative efforts in a culturally appropriate manner.  

 

The event introduced the concept of commemoration and facilitated discussions on what it would entail in the DRC, where vast communities have been affected by varying degrees of both small and large-scale violence. In deliberating this reality and raising the question of when it is appropriate to begin commemorative efforts in DRC given is ongoing instability, the overarching objective of the workshop was to link the DRC’s context to broader genocide and mass atrocities prevention efforts worldwide.

 

Local Format

 

Commemoration was a new topic to the majority of participants. The workshop was therefore facilitated in a manner which connected commemoration to broader concepts of everyday relevance as it pertains to the daily lives of Congolese civilians. This included topics which explored national unity and solidarity; women’s inclusion in peace and security; the role of youth in development; as well as a keynote message on commemoration initiatives globally in order to provide perspective on how international efforts can apply locally.

 

The interdisciplinary method of bridging the themes between development, inclusion, and commemoration proved effective. By discussing these various topics, we were able to present the importance of commemoration in a manner which was interdisciplinary and complementary to the ongoing efforts being made for peacebuilding and development in DRC.  

 

Throughout the various presentations, key insights were brought forth by participants which shed light on how commemorative efforts can begin in DRC. This included three central theme and questions:

 

            Solidarity: what does this entail for DRC?

 

Participants spoke widely about the need to develop national solidarity in the DRC but qualified it with the need to provide Congolese citizens with the opportunity to achieve a degree of personal growth. Social solidarity was defined as members of a community working together toward a shared objective, while dually achieving self-actualization. This was expressed by a workshop participants accordingly: “you cannot develop your environment minus yourself”. In other words, it was agreed that when citizens have the chance to develop themselves and maintain stability in their domestic life, they will be better positioned to take ownership over broader development and security efforts in the DRC. It was agreed that positive community relations should be nurtured through income generating activities, the facilitations of ongoing peace dialogues, and the initiation of peace culture among Congolese civilians from a young age.

 

Impact of Commemoration: positive, negative, sustainable?

 

In deliberating the implications of commemoration and remembrance, the question was posed: does commemoration have a negative impact? How can people come together to commemorate without inciting violence? What do sustainable commemorative efforts entail? And in a country as diverse as DRC, whose history is to be remembered? What constitutes ‘sustainable’ commemoration which will last through generations despite political transitions of power? The emphasis on investing in opportunities for youth was prevalent throughout the discussions. This was described as "[it is said that] youth are the future but actually youth are the reality of today, tomorrow will always become tomorrow". In relation to preventing conflict, it phenomena of Congolese youth being manipulated to join militia groups was noted, and the importance of tackling these realities by providing alternative platforms for youth was highlighted.

 

            Community-driven vs. National commemoration?

 

In deliberating ownership over reconciliatory and commemorative efforts, Rwanda’s state-led process was the common point of reference. In the case of DRC, the question of who is to determine whose history was posed, particularly in the absence of a Congolese state-led process. And given the diversity of its ethnic communities, it was ask whether introducing commemorative activities will bear the risk of inciting more violence. And hence, the question was presented of whether commemorative efforts should begin on a small-scale community level, or whether the central government should spearhead this process.

 

What Congo’s Emerging Commemorative Efforts Teach Us

 

As TWR expands its mission internationally, the unique insights presented by Congolese activits highlight that there is no template for commemoration. Rather, a context-specific in needed to ensure inclusion and sustainability in commemorative efforts.  

 

While working to promote continuous awareness and education for the genocides of the 20th century, the questions and perspectives raised in the DRC are essential to reevaluating the methods we employ in developing anti-genocide constituencies and garnering networks that are willing and able to stand up on behalf of those who have been, and continue to be impacted by such crimes. Every citizen in the DRC has been impacted by the instability that has engulfed the country for almost three decades. The reflections of Congolese civilians demonstrate the possibility for diverse communities to come together and discover which methods which will plant seeds for healing, stability and conflict prevention in DRC. As defined by a workshop participant, "Commemoration is a moment to remember, give dignity, and prevent".

 

The resilience and willingness of Congolese civilians to initiate commemorative efforts should be treated as an opportunity for existing communities who have cultivated a degree of experience in the field of genocide prevention to work directly with immerging communities to bridge global efforts in genocide and atrocity prevention, remembrance, and commemoration.