Fambul Tok

WHY?

Each new phase of Fambul Tok begins with consultations with the impacted communities. Rather than present communities with instructions for replicating a predesigned program,, Fambul Tok practices “emergent design,” drawing on local perspectives and responsive to ongoing assessment and reflection, allowing each community to shape its own process, and readily adapt to real-world events and social change.

HOW?

Fambul Tok in Sierra Leone officially launched in December 2007 with regional pre-consultations in the cities of Kenema, Bo and Makeni (in the eastern, southern and northern regions of the country, respectively). With representation of Sierra Leonean civil society organizations and national stakeholders, this initial testing of the waters to assess community needs and interest verified the need for extensive, district-level consultations in each of the country’s 14 districts (12 districts, plus Western Urban and Western Rural).

Next, a round of district consultations held across the nation from January to March 2008, engaged a wide spectrum of participants—traditional leaders, women’s groups, youth groups, community stakeholders and local government officials, among others—to discuss the process of facilitating reconciliation in their respective communities. To ensure total participation during the consultations—a key Fambul Tok value—participants were divided into groups to discuss questions such as:

What is Reconciliation?
What is Forgiveness?
Are we willing to reconcile?
Suggest possible/preferred methods of reconciliation
What do your communities need for reconciliation?
What is already available in the communities?
How can Fambul Tok support community initiatives?

The stakeholders in every district overwhelmingly articulated the need for genuine reconciliation, and suggested that the process focus on traditional methods of reconciliation.  Some consultations recommended what could be termed mass reparations, such as memorials, reburial of mass graves, and symbolic monuments, as helpful first steps for reconciliation in their communities.

The consultations culminated in nation-wide approval for Fambul Tok and the formation of the initial district structures to help design and facilitate the process.

One common theme throughout the consultations was the need to make the Fambul Tok process accessible to all. A common complaint about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings was that they were all held in the district headquarter towns, and for a maximum of five days, thereby limiting participation to those who could afford to travel. Although it was initially envisioned that Fambul Tok ceremonies be held at the chiefdom level, even this was seen as potentially limiting people’s access and ability to participate. As a result of the consultations, the decision was made to hold reconciliation ceremonies at the sectional level (sections are composed of between three and nine villages) to ensure universal access.