Show Notes
In this episode of Peace is Power, Janessa Gans Wilder speaks with Rev. Dr. Fuhbang Emmanuel Tanifum, a pastor, theologian, interfaith leader, and grassroots peacebuilder working in Bamenda, Cameroon, amid the country’s ongoing Anglophone conflict. Emmanuel shares the childhood experience that first shaped his commitment to nonviolence: as a teenager, he was seriously wounded after responding to a family conflict with violence. The experience led him to question what violence could actually accomplish and convinced him that “violence will only beget violence.” His organization combines peacebuilding and leadership education with vocational and self-employment training, helping young people develop both the skills and economic independence to reject recruitment by violent actors.
The conversation explores why sustainable peace requires grassroots participation, why peacebuilding must be supported as a long-term investment, and how individuals can find courage, hope, and purpose even in difficult circumstances. Emmanuel ultimately argues that peace is not simply the absence of violence but a form of transformative power, and that creating a peaceful world requires each of us to practice peace in our own lives and communities.
Key Takeaways:
Nonviolence is a conscious choice Emmanuel’s own experience taught him that responding to violence with violence only creates more violence. He describes peace as an intentional path that anyone can choose.
Peacebuilding must address economic realities Peace skills alone may not be enough when young people have few ways to support themselves. Emmanuel’s programs combine peace leadership with vocational and self-employment training, giving youth alternatives to violence.
Young people need a meaningful role in peace Emmanuel focuses on bringing together people from different religious, linguistic, and social backgrounds. The goal is not only to teach peace skills but to help young people become peace leaders within their communities.
Sustainable peace has to reach the grassroots Top-down approaches cannot create durable peace on their own. Reconciliation, healing, and community participation must happen at the grassroots level, with young people and women included in peace processes.
Peace requires long-term commitment Peacebuilding is not an overnight solution. Emmanuel emphasizes the need for sustained resources, partnerships, and investment to grow the movement of young people committed to addressing political, social, and economic injustice without violence.
Timestamps: (05:56) The childhood experience that shaped a peacebuilder- Emmanuel recalls the violent family conflict that nearly cost him his life and explains how it changed his understanding of violence. (12:24) Why violence cannot create peace- Emmanuel reflects on the conscious decision he made as a young man to reject violence and pursue peace. (13:44) Life in Bamenda during the conflict- Emmanuel describes the continuing deadlock between the government and separatists and the need for grassroots healing and reconciliation. (16:01) Understanding Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict- Emmanuel explains the conflict's historical and political roots and how tensions escalated after protests by teachers and lawyers in 2016. (18:17) The human cost of the conflict- He discusses deaths, displacement, sexual violence, destroyed villages, kidnappings, school closures, and the broader suffering experienced by communities. (19:58) When violence becomes a livelihood- Emmanuel explains why unemployment and a lack of economic opportunities can make young people vulnerable to recruitment and manipulation by violent groups. (22:25) Turning peace skills into economic opportunity- After seeing that peace pledges alone were not enough, Emmanuel’s organization began incorporating livelihood and self-employment training into its peacebuilding curriculum. (26:20)...
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