Memory of Violence and Drama in Peru: The Experience of the Truth Commission and Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani – Violence and Dehumanization
Febres, Salomon Lerner . “Memory of Violence and Drama in Peru: The Experience of the Truth Commission and Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani – Violence and Dehumanization.” International Journal of Transitional Justice 14, no. 1 (2020): 232–41. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijz032.
This article analyses the powerful role of the arts, particularly theatre, for post-conflict reconciliation, discussing the collaboration between Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Yuyachkani, an indigenous theatre group. The author delves into the historical context of violence in Peru during the armed conflict from 1980 to 2000, which resulted in widespread human rights violations. He discusses the formation of Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sought to investigate and shed light on the atrocities committed during this time. Notably, the commission revealed a systemic targeting of indigenous populations, and deep societal divisions which fueled violence. Yuyachkani (I am remembering), a theatre group, worked with the TRC to create performances that symbolically depicted the trauma and injustices endured by Peruvian society, particularly the indigenous community. The performances described, called “Untitled” and “Rosa Cuchillo,” used archetypal characters and symbolic narratives to engage audiences and tell stories about the conflict.
The article describes how the Yuyachkani group encouraged community participation in the reconciliation process by bringing theatre to public spaces. The interactive nature of the performances allowed audiences to confront and reflect on Peru’s painful historical realities while also envisioning ways to achieve healing and justice. Importantly, these performances told stories that would have otherwise not been heard and served as platforms for discussion and collective reflection, overall fostering a sense of solidarity and shared responsibility among audience members. In conclusion, the article demonstrates how artistic interventions, like theatre, may enhance traditional justice mechanisms by offering new avenues for truth-telling, memory preservation, and social change. Febres highlights that by harnessing the power of art, communities can navigate complex conflict narratives and progress towards a more just and peaceful future.
This article is part of a special issue of the International Journal of Transitional Justice that focuses on creative approaches to transitional justice. For readers interested in learning about different creative methods that have been employed for conflict resolution, the issue contains a variety of other articles on the subject. Find them here: https://academic.oup.com/ijtj/issue/14/1