Resources
The Continuum of Violence explained 01.01.2020
This video explains the Continuum of Violence in 100 seconds.
Impact story: When fiction transforms reality 28.11.2017
A short documentary illustrating how radio drama can support the reconciliation process in Rwanda.
Scholarly Insights: Scholar-practitioner collaboration in media-related interventions: A case study of Radio La Benevolencija in Rwanda 2014
An academic paper examining methodological, ethical, and collaborative challenges in media development projects by analysing Radio La Benevolencija’s intervention in Rwanda, a radio drama program addressing inter-ethnic conflict, highlighting the successful intersection of theory, practice, and research in peace-building through media.
Impact story: Musekeweya, a gateway to healing 01.01.2012
This short video covers the Rwandan radio drama Musekeweya.
Impact story: The house that Musekeweya built 01.01.2011
Inspired by the the radio drama Musekeweya, several young athletes from northern Rwanda join together in 2007 to build an association of the same name. Driven by the principles of the radio drama, these athletes embody the story of life imitating art, and demonstrate the power of radio in Rwanda.
Rezarta Bilali, Johanna Ray Vollhardt and Jason Rarick (2017), “Modeling collective action through media to promote social change and positive intergroup relations in violent conflicts”, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 68: 200-211. 01.01.2017
Research on the impact of social influence exerted through role modeling of collective action on social change in eastern DRC. Kumbuka Kesho was used for this research.
Lauren Kogen and Monroe Prince (2014), “Assessing Impact, Evaluating Adaptability: A Decade of Radio La Benevolencija in Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC”, University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication. 05.05.2014
The Center for Global Communication Studies at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania conducted an evaluation of ten years of Benevolencija’s work in the Great Lakes Region. In addition to understanding the aggregate impact of Benevolencija’s programs, this meta-evaluation seeks to investigate what the organisation’s work offers to others engaged in this field. It explores the adaptability of Benevolencija’s methodology to other countries and contexts and how the model might be used a prototype for future interventions.
Elizabeth Levy Paluck (2009), “Reducing Intergroup Prejudice and Conflict Using the Media: A Field Experiment in Rwanda”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 96(3):574-87. 02.04.2009
This research seeks to understand the mass-media’s role in shaping prejudiced beliefs, norms and behavior. A yearlong field experiment in Rwanda tested the impact of RLB’s radio drama Musekeweya, featuring messages about reducing intergroup prejudice, violence, and trauma in 2 fictional Rwandan communities. Compared with a control group who listened to a health radio drama, listeners’ perceptions of social norms and their behaviors changed with respect to intermarriage, open dissent, trust, empathy, cooperation, and trauma healing. However, the radio program did little to change listeners’ personal beliefs but did change social norms.
Holocaust remembrance and the impact of the Israel-Hamas war – GREY: the podcast
In the debut episode of “Grey,” hosted by Jordy Nijenhuis, guests Vladimir Andrle and George Weiss engage in a conversation on navigating our polarised world.
Sarajevo’s haven of peace – a reminder, from the BBC, of the spirit in which Radio La Benevolencija HTF was founded 09.08.2023
Radio La Benevolencija Humanitarian Tools Foundation was inspired by La Benevolencija Sarajevo, a local humanitarian organization set up by members of the city’s Jewish community, which played a unique role during the Bosnian war (1992-1995) – where it emerged as a beacon of hope amidst the conflict.
In a powerful conversation with Jakob Finci, former vice president of the Jewish community during that tumultuous period, the motivation behind their actions comes to light. Listen to the interview here.
Radio La Benevolencija’s George Weiss on a panel at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit – Panel 4.10 Education Through Entertainment 21.09.2022
Delivering messages to those most at risk of participating in violent extremism is a specialized task and this panel will explore whether “entertainment education” – including video games, TV, sport, and other media – can be effective avenues for message delivery.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Ross Frenett, Founder & CEO, Moonshot
- George Weiss, Founder & CEO of Radio La Benevolencija Humanitarian Tools Foundation
- Derek Silva, Associate Professor, King’s College, London
- Arvind Singhal, Ph.D., Samuel Shirley & Edna Holt Marston Professor, Director, Social Justice Initiative, Department of Communication, The University of Texas at El Paso
- Hana Hadzifejzovic, John Howard Society Ottawa
Watch the panel discussion here.
Radio La Benevolencija receives the Noel Markwell Media Award 16.07.2020
Radio La Benevolencija is very honoured to receive the Noel Markwell Media Award by the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP). The award is presented to an individual or organization whose work best reflects the purposes and the spirit of ISPP, and that demonstrates concern for the political psychological factors that affect the world today.
The ISPP Award Committee considers the work of RLB extremely important in this day and age for promoting reconciliation, healing, and development in conflict-ridden societies. Read the article here.
Patrick Lodiers (2020), “Dominee of Koopman”, BNNVara. 11.06.2020
In the documentary series Dominee of Koopman, Patrick Lodiers examines the role of development aid in 6 African countries. In Rwanda he visits Radio La Benevolencija.
Mario Goossens and Karel van Mileghem (2019), “Paradise City: Op zoek naar de kracht van muziek in Kigali”, Canvas 03.10.2019
In the Paradise City documentary-series, Triggerfinger-drummer Mario Goossens explores how music and arts help people in coping with the consequences and aftermath of environmental or humanitarian disasters. He travels to different cities, including Kigali (Rwanda). In Kigali, he focuses amongst others on the healing power of La Benevolencija’s radio drama Musekeweya.
Roelof de Vries en Willemijn Veenhoven (2019), “Het trauma van Rwanda: Interview met Anneke van Hoek en Anneke Verbraecken”, NPO Radio 1: De Nieuws BV 05.04.2019
La Benevolencija co-founder Anneke van Hoek and investigative journalist Anneke Verbraeken discuss the past and current state of affairs in Rwanda 25 years after the genocide. Click here for the full radio interview.
Radio La Benevolencija receives the Clara Meijer Wichmann Medal 10.12.2018
On 10 December 2018, Radio la Benevolencija received the Clara Meijer Wichmann Medal from the International Federation for Human Rights. It has been awarded this medal for its work in the Great Lakes Region of Africa and Europe aimed at increasing awareness of, and resilience against, incitement, hate speech and identity-based manipulation, and promoting dialogue, inclusiveness and active bystandership. The medal was received by George Weiss, founding director of the organization.
Co-founder Anneke Van Hoek was interviewed by NPO Radio 1 about RLB’s work in the Great Lakes Region and its impact on people’s daily lives. The interview can be found here (minute 17:40 onwards).
Shankar Vedantam (2018) “Rwandan Reconciliation Through Radio Soap Opera”, NPR 19.04.2018
NPR item about the start and impact of radio drama Musekeweya in Rwanda. Click here to read the article, and to listen to the radio item.
Shankar Vedantam (2018), “Romeo & Juliet In Kigali: How A Soap Opera Sought To Change Behavior In Rwanda”, NPR 16.04.2018
NPR item about the impact of Musekeweya in Rwanda. Click here to read the article, and to listen to the radio item (minute 21.30 onwards).
Do Nsoseme Dora (2018), “Faire du théâtre pour la paix dans les Grands Lacs”, Habari RDC. 19.03.2018
Blog by one of the participants of RLB’s participative theatre project in the border regions of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Read more about this project in this blog of one of the play’s participants. more.
Gaelle Obiégly (2016), “Une radio contre la fabrique des bourreaux”, Liberation 23.03.2016
Interview with Benevolencija’s founding director George Weiss about the history, mission, vision and projects of La Benevolencija ABC.
Benevolencija’s film “I Mashoka” screened at FESPACO (BF) and Afrikamera (GE) this year 01.12.2015
Radio La Benevolencija is pleased to announce that its film “I Mashoka“, produced by Pascal Capitolin and Jean-Marie Ndihokubwayo, was screened at the FESPACO filmfestival in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and the Afrikamera festival in Berlin (Germany).
This first ever Burundian science fiction movie follows a man and a woman in the year 2058, who recapitulate what happened 41 years earlier. In 2017 the population fell victim to a major crisis. The water is contaminated, nothing can be harvested or consumed anymore. As the situation turns even more untenable, the society is torn apart by divisions between friends, families and other identity groups.
Mark Schenkel (2015), “Bujumbura wordt een ‘ville morte'”, De Standaard 22.05.2015
Interview with regional coordinator Johan Deflander, about the political situation in Burundi and the work of La Benevolencija in the country.
Allison Love (2014), “Soap opera helping Rwandans heal”, CNN 21.11.2014
CNN article about the transmedia project “Love Radio” by Dutch photographer Anoek Steketee and filmmaker Eefje Blankevoort, inspired by Musekeweya.
Stéphanie Aglietti (2014), “Rwanda: le feuilleton radiophonique à succès Musekewya”, RFI. 20.03.2014
News item by RFI about Musekweya,
One World (2014), “Verzoeningssoap Musekeweya razend populair” 17.04.2014
Short background article on Musekeweya, which gives an insight into the actors’ work.
Transmedia documentary “Love Radio” launched 01.02.2014
The transmedia documentary Love Radio, produced by journalist and filmmaker Eefje Blankevoort and photographer Anoek Steketee, has been launched. It recounts the complex process of reconciliation following an armed conflict, based on Radio La Benevolencija’s Rwandan radio drama Musekeweya.
La Benevolencija at Afrika Filmfestival Brussels 05.10.2012
Burundi celebrated its 50 years of independence in 2012. Prince Louis Rwagasore was an emblematic figure of the anti-colonial struggle and is directly linked to this independence. Radio La Benevolencija produced a documentary about him, which was screened in Bujumbura as part of the official celebration activities in July. We are proud to announce that this documentary will be screened at the Afrika Filmfestival in Brussels too.
Al Jazeera (2012), Item on Radio La Benevolencija and Musekeweya 31.01.2012
An Al Jazeera news item on the success of Benevolencija’s soap ‘Musekeweya’ or ‘New Dawn’ in the reconciliation process in Rwanda.
Maggie Ziegler (2010), “A Soap Opera for Peace in Rwanda”, Peace Magazine. 01.01.2010
Article on the methodology and impact of Benevolencija’s radio drama Musekeweya
Franziska von Scheven (2008), “Rwanda radio soap opera casts a healing spell”, The New York Times. 06.01.2008
Click here to read this New York Times article about Musekeweya.
NCRV (2008), “Het Derde Testament” 28.06.2008
CEO and Founder of Radio La Benevolencija, George Weiss, features in the Dutch documentary Het Derde Testament.
NRC (2008), “Een Rwandese Romeo en Julia” 06.06.2008
News article by NRC about Musekweya in Rwanda.