Abstract
This study explores themes in Dagbani movies which enhance peace-building, and discusses cultural conflict resolution techniques employed in Dagbani movies for peace-building. Qualitative research design was employed for the study. Focus group discussions and interviews were used for data collection. The study used Agenda Setting theory as analytical framework, and undertook thematic analysis to tease out messages in the content of selected movies. It showed that Dagbani movies contain lessons on peace-building and have become reference materials for opinion leaders and peace campaigners within Dagbon. Out of 11 movies sampled, six exposed bad traditional leadership with a view to admonishing Dagbon chiefs to desist from acts that could promote conflicts. Dagbani movies, re-establish working relations among warring factions, deal with systemic issues underlying conflicts and rebuild mutual relationships. The movies advocate the use of traditional peace-building techniques for conflict resolution. The study concludes that if movie producers get the support of relevant stakeholders, Dagbon movies could be effective in resolving conflicts. It recommends that film makers solicit funding from donor agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to produce movies targeted at maintaining peace in Dagbon.
 Keywords: Dagbani Movies, Peaceful Co-existence, Chieftaincy Disputes, Conflict Resolution and Culture
Highlights
Africa has over the years, witnessed numerous bloody conflicts, with grave political, social, economic and humanitarian consequences for affected countries
In view of evidence to the effect that movies have been instrumental in conflict resolution in some jurisdictions, the following questions are asked: Why did Dagbani movies fail to resolve the Dagbon crisis? To what extent are Dagbani movies effective tools for peace-building? This paper tries to examine the themes related to peacebuilding which are explored in Dagbani movies, discuss cultural conflict resolution techniques employed in Dagbani movies for peace-building and establish how challenges in the Dagbani movie industry affect the use of movies for peacebuilding
The study set out to discuss the contribution of Dagbani movies to peace-building in Dagbon, analyse the themes related to peace-building, which are explored in Dagbani movies and to examine the cultural conflict resolution techniques employed in Dagbani movies for peace-building
Summary
Africa has over the years, witnessed numerous bloody conflicts, with grave political, social, economic and humanitarian consequences for affected countries. Mention Nigeria (1967-1970), Uganda (1979), Somalia (since 1991), Liberia (1989 – 1997, 2000-2003), Sierra Leone (1992-2002), Côte d’Ivoire (2002-2010), Rwanda (1994) and Kenya (2007) as some countries which have had their fair share of conflicts on the continent. The effects of these conflicts have been loss of lives and property, mass displacement of people, bad governance leading to failed states, unemployment, insecurity and poverty (McGowan, 2005). The Abudu-Andani chieftaincy crisis popularly referred to as the Dagbon Crisis, which resulted in the death of Ya Na, Yakubu Andani II, the King of Dagbon and about 40 others (Takyi, Tika & Anin, 2013), has been a major development challenge for the Northern Region, but the entire country
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