Twenty-Sixth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

This paper explores how media language and cultural performance reimagine identity and diversity in post-conflict Cameroon. Its purpose is to investigate the ways internally displaced persons (IDPs) use discourse and artistic expression to negotiate belonging and resilience in fractured communities. In a nation where conflict and displacement have disrupted traditional structures of identity, the voices of the displaced emerge as critical sites of cultural transformation. The study employs two main methods: discourse analysis of newspaper reports on displacement and ethnographic observations of storytelling and community performance practices among IDPs. These approaches allow for an examination of both the external narratives that shape public perceptions and the internal strategies of representation and renewal within displaced communities. Findings reveal that while official media often frame IDPs in ways that emphasize vulnerability and dependence, community-based performances highlight resilience, solidarity, and agency. The paper argues that diversity is not a fixed demographic condition but a dynamic process of negotiation in which marginalized voices reshape collective identity and challenge exclusionary discourses. The implications extend beyond Cameroon, offering insights for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners interested in fostering inclusive approaches to diversity, migration, and multicultural coexistence in conflict-affected contexts.