Journal Article

Versions of Truth and Collective Memory: The Quest for Forgiveness and Healing in the Context of Kenya's Postelection Violence

Muhoma, Catherine

2012

Overview

The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) in Kenya was set up in the aftermath of the 2007/8 postelection violence with the mandate of providing a platform for those who had experienced political injustices. 5 The Fire This Time as an alternative repository of stories, memories, and versions of truths that could perhaps guide the country on a path of truth, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. 5 to our understanding of the postelection violence hinges on the journal's retrieval of stories that evoke contrary memories to those in circulation, and in so doing, provide alternative accounts to the official government version of the causes of ethnic tensions and violence in Kenya.

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Subject: African literature / African studies / African studies, literary studies / Amnesia / Collective memory / Communities / Elections / Ethnicity / Forgiveness / Healing / Interethnic relations / Justice / Kahora, Billy / Kenya / Literary criticism / literary studies / Local elections / Material culture / Memories / Narratives / National reconciliation / Periodicals / Political aspects / Political parties / Political violence / Politics / Post-conflict reconstruction / Public officials / Reconciliation / Retrieval / REVIEW ESSAY / Social aspects / Travelogues / Truth / Truth and reconciliation commissions / Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission / Violence