We the Young Fighters

Book Talk

Marc Sommers will tell a story of war and peacethrough a pop culture lens. It's featured in his award-winning new book, "We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture,Terror, and War in Sierra Leone."

Why did youth in the West African nation of SierraLeone turn to Bob Marley for inspiration, the Rambomovies for instruction and Tupac Shakur forfriendship? How did this pop culture trio influence warand the postwar peace?

Why did youth in the West African nation of SierraLeone turn to Bob Marley for inspiration, the Rambomovies for instruction and Tupac Shakur forfriendship? How did this pop culture trio influence warand the postwar peace?

For young Sierra Leoneans, Marley, Rambo and Tupacportrayed a perverse universe, where those in the rightare blamed while the powerful attack them. During thenation's civil war, military commanders exploited thetrio’s power over their fighters to fuel terror-basedwarfare. After the war, youth again turned to their popculture heroes for inspiration.

Lessons will be drawn from the upside-down world ofalienated youth and the challenge of predatorygovernance.

Thursday, February 6th, 2025 @ 12:30pm, Pub Aff Rm 4357

**Lunch will be provided, RSVP required**

Click here to RSVP!

Published: Sunday, February 2, 2025