The effects of moral exemplars awareness on common ingroup identification and reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda

Moral exemplars (Imena) play an important part in commemorative practices and reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda. Acknowledging the essential role of moral exemplars in reconciliation and intergroup contact in post-conflict setting, we aimed at examining the effects of exposure to moral-exemplars on people's attitudes toward reconciliation and identification with superordinate national category in Rwanda. A study of 168 young Rwandans showed that higher awareness of moral exemplars during genocide was related to stronger ingroup ties with other ingroup members and higher centrality of national identification. Strong ingroup ties significantly mediated the effects of moral exemplars awareness on reconciliation attitudes. This shows that ties with other members of common national ingroup, as well as the centrality of superordinate categories could be effective means for reconciliation after genocide.