Peace and violence in contemporary Africa: a possibility of intercultural dialogue?

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Periodical article

Title:	Peace and violence in contemporary Africa: a possibility of intercultural dialogue?
Author:	Kaphagawani, Didier N.
Year:	2000
Periodical:	Journal of Humanities (ISSN 1016-0728)
Issue:	14
Pages:	1-8
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Malawi Central Africa Africa
Subjects:	communication African languages sociology violence war peace international politics
External link:	https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jh/article/view/6289
Abstract:	Assuming a linguistic conceptual scheme for determining cultural dialogue which uses linguistic similarities/differences as its basis, the author acknowledges intercultural conflict in Africa and argues that although there seems to be a clear notion/word for 'peace' in some Southern African languages, there does not seem to be any for what is known in English as 'violence'. This is the case of Chichewa, Tumbuka, Bemba, and Shona. However, intercultural dialogue is possible irrespective of whether one embraces cultural universalism or cultural relativism. Both principles of similarity and difference are quintessential to dialogue and it is precisely because of their differences and similarities that cultures interact. Bibliogr.