The Power of Songs in Communicating Memory and Truth

The ongoing singing of a song by an individual highlighted the unresolved emotions related to a historical event. The emotional immediacy in singing indicated the event was still vivid in memory. The recurrence of a war similar to the historical massacre reflected the lingering impact of past events. The blood memory of the war massacre contributed to the rapid spread of the Civil War in South Sudan. This showcases the importance of transitional justice, where memory, evidence, and public storytelling play crucial roles. The ineffectiveness of top-down peace-building measures that lack cultural sensitivity is emphasized, suggesting that efforts should be more bottom-up and culturally customized. Within oral histories, the communication of testimonies through songs is noted as a valuable contribution to understanding feelings and experiences.