We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror, and War in Sierra Leone

Book Launch for "We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror, and War in Sierra Leone"

We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror and War in Sierra Leone tells the story of war and peace through a pop culture lens. Award-winning author Marc Sommers has written an extraordinary new book on how reggae idol Bob Marley, rap legend Tupac Shakur, and the Rambo movies influenced youth, civil war, and the postwar peace in the West African nation of Sierra Leone.

The new book features alienated youth in Sierra Leone who turned to Marley for inspiration, Tupac for friendship, and Rambo for instruction. Together, they portrayed an upside-down world, where those in the right are blamed while the powerful attack them. During the civil war, military commanders exploited the trio’s influence over their young fighters and captives to spur terror-based warfare. After the war, youth again turned to Marley, Tupac and Rambo for validation and support. 

Panelists:

• Marc Sommers, author of "We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror, and War in Sierra Leone"
• Jack A. Goldstone, Virginia E. and John T. Hazel, Jr. Chair Professor of Public Policy, Schar School of Policy and Government
• Patricia A. Maulden, Professor of Conflict Resolution, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Christy L Pichichero, Associate Professor in the African and African American Studies Program