From South Africa to Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs) have become popular justice mechanisms for states and societies seeking to address contemporary human rights violations and historical atrocities. Once confined to

transitional states in the Global South, the TRC model has expanded to established democracies seeking to address historical injustices and foster national reconciliation. The growing appeal of TRCs as transitional and restorative justice mechanisms reflects the resurgence of memory politics in an era of increasing challenge of the nation-state’s hegemony over history. As official narratives are challenged by societal demands for inclusive representations of the past, Truth Commissions have become public spaces for policing the boundaries of truth and falsehood, and negotiating the difficult past in the uncertain present. This talk explores the complex politics of historical memory in truth commission processes in Africa. It frames the TRC model as a paradigm shift in the global discourse on human rights and justice.

About the Speaker

Bonny Ibhawoh is Professor of Legal History and the Senator William McMaster Chair in Global Human Rights at McMaster University, Canada. With over 30 years of experience as human rights educator, policymaker and practitioner, he has taught in Universities in Africa, Europe, the United States and Canada. His recent books include Human Rights in Africa (CUP 2018) and Imperial Justice (OUP 2013). He is working on a forthcoming book titled: The Age of Truth and Reconciliation.