BRIDGING CULTURE THROUGH SONG: MUSICAL EXCHANGE IN TORTURE SURVIVOR BEFRIENDING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jca.v2i2.8504Keywords:
refugees, song-sharing, torture, befriendingAbstract
Torture fundamentally disrupts survivors’ ability to communicate and form trusting relationships, presenting unique challenges for befriending programs. Using data from a collaborative workshop involving befriending pairs from Spirasi, the Irish torture rehabilitation service, and artists from the Museum of Song initiative in Ireland, this study examines how relationships between torture survivors and volunteers can be enhanced through culturally sensitive neurobiologically informed song-sharing practices. Data collection involved participant observation, song-sharing activities, and feedback. Reflexive thematic analysis led to the construction of five interconnected themes: musical homelands as anchors to identity and place, temporal bridges connecting time and loss, gentle vulnerability enabling trust-building, collective witnessing providing shared emotional support, and cultural co-creation fostering mutual enrichment. Findings show that song sharing addresses the impact of torture through communication facilitation, identity preservation, grief processing, and cross-cultural connections. This study contributes to a new understanding of how creative musical practices can enhance psychosocial support frameworks in torture rehabilitation.
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