Folklore as a Vehicle for Conflict Resolution in Africa: A Case Study of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

This paper examines l’Arbre à Palabre (AP)—Under the Palaver Tree, an Ivorian peacebuilding mechanism in contemporary conflict resolution. I argue that contextual and local understanding of armed conflicts before designing conflict resolution mechanisms is critical for peacebuilding because of the peculiarities of every post-conflict society. The mechanisms are geographically limited and culturally distinct but ontologically homogeneous across many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. I demonstrate that while liberal peacebuilding has its problems on the continent, African mechanisms are not immune because of the dynamics of modern conflicts, therefore the latter needs innovative approaches that transcend ethnic borders to meet contemporary challenges.