BEYOND THE UNITED NATIONS DEFINITION: Rethinking the Role of Media in Curbing Genocide in Africa

Genocide and manslaughter have been part of humanity from the preliterate societies to the present day. Using Campbell's theory which conceptualises genocide as a form of social control and defines it as 'organised and unilateral mass killing on the basis of ethnicity,'1 this article proffers possible ways in which the media can effectively curb genocides or genocidal tendencies in African states. The article further critiques and exposes the limitations of the United Nations definition of genocide as a ploy by Western scholars in a bid to cover up genocidal acts associated with slave trade and colonialism. From the perspective that genocide as social control, this paper further argues that the media in Africa in its current state can be a potent force in functioning as an early warning to the emergence of genocides. This paper rejects the current patronising conceptions which relegates African media to an inferior status in relation to the international media in terms of dealing with genocide. The media in Africa should become responsive to incidences of genocide and effectively warn against the agitation for genocide because African journalists possess intimate knowledge of the ethnic composition of the societies that they operate in. Although international support is vital, African media should be the starting point in raising alarm about genocide.