GENOCIDE AND DISSONANCE IN SELECT AFRICAN FILMS

Abstract

Genocide and dissonance, experienced by ethnic nationalities in Africa, lead to wanton destruction of lives and property. Previous studies on these phenomena concentrated on causal factors and various preventive and punitive measures against them, as reflected in radio and print media, with little attention paid to their representation in films. This study was, therefore, designed to interrogate genocide and dissonance in African films, with a view to determining their nature and effects. Kenneth Arrow’s Social Choice and Gregory Bateson’s framing theories were adopted as the framework, while the descriptive design was used. Five films were purposively selected for their treatment of genocide and dissonance. They are Hotel Rwanda (HR), Half of a Yellow Sun (HYS), Attack on Darfur (AD), Sarafina and Somewhere in Africa (SA). Data were subjected to critical analysis. Hotel Rwanda, HYS and SA are the films with genocide contents, while Sarafina and AD have dissonance contents. Causes of genocide and dissonance in the films are political dominance (HR, HYS, AD, Sarafina and SA), ethnic and religious intolerance (AD and SA) and battling for limited economic resources (HR and AD). Victims are exposed to physical and mental abuse (HR, HYS and AD), varying degree of displacement (HR and HYS), child soldering (HYS), property loot (AD), hunger and starvation (HYS, HR), rape (HR, SA and AD), sex-slavery (HR), killing by those close to them (HR) as well as mental and psychosomatic stress disorders (HR and HYS). Genocide and dissonance are tacitly sponsored by the State (HR, HYS, AD, Sarafina and SA). Religious and educational institutions play contrastive role in HR. While school teachers in the high school prefer to die with their students instead of isolating them according to ethnic groups, religious priests betray those that run to them for safety. By their action and inaction, local and international media, interested members of the international community and aid agencies abet genocide and dissonance that they are supposed to prevent. There are no consequences for the leaders of genocides and dissonance in all the films, except in SA where General Mumbasa is eventually assassinated. There is flagrant abuse of the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life, as Africans are depicted as brutish and wild in all the films. Genocide and dissonance are uncivilized ways of settling differences, dialogue instead of violence is the antidote needed for sustaining peaceful coexistence, healthy and harmonious relationship can still be achieved after incidence of genocide and dissonance are the central messages common to all the films. Genocide and dissonance in Africa, as presented in the films, are sustained by the selfish interest of local and international state and non-state actors, while their effects on the people are physical, mental, social and economic.