Baiima village seems peaceful now but 19 years ago it was the scene of some brutal attacks when civil war broke out. Massah Jusu can vividly remember the violence she and her family were subjected to by rebels at the time.

“My pregnant daughter was the first to be killed. They split her stomach open and removed the baby. There was a rebel called Devil — he was the one who did that. After he removed the baby, he cut the baby in two with his machete. It was then that I began to cry. Even though I gave them some rice, they said I had to decide between killing me or pouring hot water on me. Eventually they poured hot water on me and I started to feel pain. Then the rebels just packed up and left,” she told Reuters Africa Journal. 

About 50,000 people were killed during the 11-year war that started in 1991. The Revolutionary United Front rebels conscripted child soldiers and used them to kill and hack off civilians’ limbs. The RUF controlled the country’s diamond areas and the former president of neighbouring Liberia, Charles Taylor, is accused of arming the rebels in exchange for diamonds.

Taylor is facing war crime charges in The Hague and his trial has been back in the spotlight after prosecutors summoned British model Naomi Campbell to clarify allegations that Taylor gave her a pouch of rough diamonds in 1997 during a trip to South Africa. 

Some of those who took part in the war live in Baiima today and to encourage them and their victims to talk and reconcile, a ceremony known as Fambul Tok or Family Talk is held.

In the village square, masked figures perform traditional dances to set the mood for the occasion. When night falls, residents gather around the bonfire. Summoning all her courage, Massah narrates her horrific ordeal at the hands of rebels. She is stunned when Foday — one of her neighbours — confesses to the crime.

Still trying to get over her shock, Massa dances with him as Fambul Tok requires that victims perpetrators do this to signify reconciliation.

But it’s not easy for Foday and Massah, who are still trying to heal their relationship. Foday is now a farmer and contributes money to help Massah’s family.

Massah says she was bitter and troubled when her neighbour confessed his crime. And people wonder if owning up and talking about it are really enough for victims like Massah, who have for years been tortured by the memories of the war and know that their former tormenters are not far off.

To watch the video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daPNz-1TgSQ

Nancy Opele has been growing sweet potatoes on her farm in Kenya’s western Trans Nzoia district. She started growing the potatoes in 2003 after researchers approached farmers and introduced them to the crop.

“We have discovered that these potatoes just need a small place to grow and they do very well. You harvest a lot of potatoes, Opele told Reuters Africa Journal.

Nancy is part of a group of women in the Bahaso self help group who are planting alternative crops to Kenya’s staple food, maize. Sweet potatoes do well in the region, are hardly attacked by pests and need minimal rainfall to grow. The crop also takes about 5 months to mature, half the time needed by maize.

 Sweet potatoes can be stored in the soil for up to 8 months but once harvested they don’t stay fresh for long. Nancy and her friends usually preserve the potatoes by grating them and drying the flakes out in the sun. The flakes are then ground into flour.

The potatoes are gaining popularity after four failed rain seasons led to a drought last year. Experts say it was the worst seen in the country since 1996. Many farmers lost their maize crop but the sweet potatoes did well.

One way to build food security is to promote use of drought tolerant foods like sweet potatoes. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, or KARI, is training farmers to plant improved varieties of the crop.

“The main focus of this project was to improve food security and also nutrition,” said Elizabeth Wanjekeche, a researcher with KARI.

The tubers are rich in carbohydrates, calcium and iron, making them highly nutritious. With sweet potato flour the women can make scones, biscuits and cakes for sale.

Rains in parts of East Africa have failed over the last 6 years and experts say things could get worse in the coming months. More farmers will need to plant crops that can adapt to changing weather patterns and improve food security. Sweet potatoes to the rescue?