Storytelling helps to breakdown cultural walls, sympathize with others, accept different experiences and feel what it's like to be in another person's shoes. The concept of storytelling is widely used in mediation practices and conflict resolution.
Storytelling also has a way to bring people to the core of the problem, to understand the intentions and the reason of a problem. On the other hand, Storytelling cannot always demolish borders or barriers between two conflicting parties, however it does provide a path to a deeper understanding of the problem and at times a new perspective on the issue.
Narrative mediation practices are sometimes useful in order to re-create a new story for the parties involved and help them to see their story or even the other’s in a new light. Often times what is needed is the physical space or opportunity to tell stories, a place to bring people together for dialogue.
During the #DialogueWorkshop in Tiwi, the play from group one had a very interesting story line of conflict and how it was resolved in a community level.
"If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Historically, music has always been the accompaniment of social change. Just as music has given many groups the courage and the means to expose injustices and advocate for their rights, it has also provided a bridge between dissenting groups.
Though there are certainly instances in which music has been used in the formation of aggressive identities, “musical values…may also be manipulated to foster tolerance by emphasizing similarity in musical practice"
Musicians and even listeners may be brought together through their experience of shared music. Music rather than language may provide a better medium for interrogating the character of conflict and for evaluating the quality of conflict resolution.
In promoting culture and tolerance, we were also privileged to have a traditional instrumentalist by the name - Solution from Ng'ombeni who entertained the participants with his unique sound.
Watch the full live performance... #TurudiKatikaAsiliYetu #Tolerance #Culture