Forgiving a War Commander. Forging Community.
What happens when a mass killer asks for forgiveness? In Sierra Leone’s Fambul Tok (Family Talk) former combatants gather with victims around a bonfire to share their truth, seek forgiveness, and restore community. In this interview with Libby Hoffman, we follow the powerful journey of Mohammed Savage and others who went from committing atrocities to becoming advocates for peace. From traditional ceremonies to modern classrooms in Chicago and St. Louis, this grassroots model of healing is transforming lives. It’s not just about forgiveness—it’s about rebuilding trust, honoring culture, and showing what’s possible when communities lead their own healing.
#LibbyHoffman #CatalystforPeace #FambulTok #Forgiveness #PoliticalForgiveness #CommunityLeadership #RestorativeJustice #Reconciliation
Libby Hoffman
Libby Hoffman is the founder and president of Catalyst for Peace and author of the award-winning book, The Answers Are There: Building Peace from the Inside Out. She creates space for those most impacted by violence and war to lead in building the peace and restoring social wholeness. She co-founded the Fambul Tok (Family Talk) program in Sierra Leone and has accompanied its growth from post-war community reconciliation to national policy framework, as chronicled in her books and the award-winning documentary Fambul Tok, which she produced in 2011. A former political science professor at Principia College, Libby has degrees from Tufts’ Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Williams College.
Where to Find Libby Hoffman
Website: libbyhoffman.com
Book: The Answers Are There: Building Peace From The Inside Out
Documentary: Fambul Tok
Catalyst for Peace: catalystforpeace.org
About Eileen Borris
Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.
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LinkedIn: Dr. Eileen Borris
Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness
00:00 Introduction to Political Forgiveness
00:41 Meet Libby Hoffman: Catalyst for Peace
02:24 The Origins of Fambul Tok
03:15 Challenges and Triumphs of Reconciliation
06:16 The Power of Community Healing
10:08 Bonfire and Cleansing Ceremonies
14:35 Stories of Forgiveness and Reconciliation
28:13 Applying Fambul Tok Principles Globally
33:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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