Following a bloodless coup d'état in 1965, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's new leader, Mobutu Sese Seko, was faced with a number of objectives, the most important of which was the creation...Show moreFollowing a bloodless coup d'état in 1965, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's new leader, Mobutu Sese Seko, was faced with a number of objectives, the most important of which was the creation of a unified Congolese identity, which would help to prevent the return to political infighting that marked the first five post-independence years. After all, the DRC is a country that is made up of many different tribes and languages, hence the creation of the unified identity was not an easy feat. Authenticité — a return to ancestral roots that would take the country forward —, renaming the country Zaire, and putting himself in the position of messianic figurehead were all just vehicles through which Mobutu sought to create this identity while at the same time firmly entrenching his own authority. At the same time, however, religious actors such as the Catholic church and the Kimbanguist church also played their part in uniting the Zairean people under one umbrella. Especially the efforts of the Catholic church were not always appreciated by Mobutu and the two often went head to head during the latter's time in power. In contemporary Congo, Mobutu and his ideology of Mobutism are often held to be two out of a myriad of reasons for the current instability, while the Catholic church is still mending the wounds. Nonetheless, by connecting the evidence from the past to the situation of the present, this thesis will show that all three aforementioned actors nonetheless perform a crucial role in ensuring that the country does not completely disintegrate.Show less
This thesis analyzes the construction of collective memory of the role of women in the Rwandan genocide, as produced by the Rwandan government. The Rwandan government simplifies its constructions...Show moreThis thesis analyzes the construction of collective memory of the role of women in the Rwandan genocide, as produced by the Rwandan government. The Rwandan government simplifies its constructions of memory about the role of women in the genocide, generally remembering all women as victims, even though the reality is far more complex. This thesis examines two case studies of memory as produced by the government: speeches by Rwandan president Paul Kagame, and displays at the Kigali Genocide Memorial center. These will reveal the government’s motivations for their production of simplified memory, as the government can use the simplification of the role of women in the construction of both international and domestic memory, which serves a number of goals.Show less
