The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APPD) program’s sponsored panel, “Negotiating Peace and Social Justice Through Non-Violent Pathways: Understanding African Values and Practices,” at the 2025 Biennial International Peace Researchers Association (IPRA) conference, featured alumni of the APPD (formerly the APN and Next Gen). During the plenary panel on Friday, November 7, panelists highlighted diverse traditional Indigenous spiritual, relational, and cultural knowledge from across the continent, emphasizing their importance in peacebuilding.

Dr. Thembani Dube (APN IRF 2024), a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Stellenbosch, presented the paper, “‘Revisiting Gukurahundi’: Ethnic marginalization, state-led reconciliation, and the Kalanga Perspective.” Her presentation critically examined the dominant narratives in reconciliation processes following the Gukurahundi genocide (1983-1987) and the ongoing tensions between ethnic minorities in Zimbabwe, namely the Kalanga. Reviewing Kalanga spiritual mediation processes, Dr. Dube argued that African Indigenous epistemologies should be integrated into transitional justice discourses to promote justice, reconciliation, and healing.

Mr. Hamudan Ssenoga’s (Next Gen Research 2024), a Ph.D. Fellow at Makerere University, paper,  “Understanding Social Justice through Identity and Power relations in Precolonial Buganda and Nkore (C14th – 1894),” examined the key debates on identity and power in precolonial African societies, using a case study of Buganda and Nkore. This was done to illuminate traditional African concepts of justice, rooted in group membership rather than individual rights, in comparison to Western individualistic human rights frameworks. Ssenoga explored the concept of omuntu (personhood) and its connection to society through Ubuntu, discussed the nature of power—whether centralized or decentralized—and addressed feminist critiques of Ubuntu/ntu that advocate for values like equality and justice.

Dr. Madinatu Bello (APN IRF 2024), a Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, presented “Indigenous rhythms and peacebuilding in Ghana: Female Indigenous master drummers driving non-violent change,” highlighting how Indigenous female master drummers in Ghana demonstrate that the drum symbolizes inclusivity and social justice. Dr. Bello argues they are reshaping narratives, redefining gendered roles and traditions as dynamic processes, in the context of advancing non-violent peacebuilding.

Following the presentation, Panel Chair Dr. Jacinta Maweu (APN IRG 2015 & APN CWG 2022-24), a Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, asked the panel to reflect on how researchers can translate their work for societal change. Panelists reflected on the opportunity to co-create documentaries and enable research participants to share what they wanted with audiences, engage governments to listen to marginalized communities’ perspectives, and recognize how scholarship can contribute to changing mindsets.

Audience members posed questions about women’s involvement in peacebuilding and policymaking on the continent. This gave the panel the opportunity to acknowledge the structural obstacles that continue to impede women’s participation. Additionally, panelists suggested people must make the choice “to be a deviant” and push back within scholarly and political spaces to drive change. Panelists encouraged the audience to be the change that has been discussed throughout the conference.

The plenary panel drew on important local insights from diverse Indigenous African traditional peacebuilding methods to highlight the growing body of knowledge on African peacebuilding approaches, and to bring these into global dialogue with researchers, activists, and practitioners at the 2025 IPRA conference.