Author(s): John Paul & Angela Hill Lederach

Philosophy

How do people heal and reconcile after violent experiences that defy words? John Paul Lederach and his daughter address social healing and reconciliation in traumatised communities through metaphors, music and unforgettable stories of suffering and hope. The Lederachs challenge the traditional notion that healing and reconciliation are best understood as linear processes, instead using approaches that explore healing as circular, dynamic and ongoing in the midst of continuing violence. The powerful cases they present include a mass women's protest movement in Liberia that forces leaders to keep negotiating until a peace agreement is signed; elders in Somalia who walk between warring clans for many years to promote a meaningful dialogue; former child soldiers who run drum workshops and grow gardens in refugee camps; and victims of rape in Sierra Leone who give poetic voice to their pain. The Lederachs illustrate the healing power of sound and vibration through tales of Tibetan singing bowls, Van Morrison's transcendent lyrics and their own personal journeys.