Description
Berghahn Books Historical Memory in Africa Dealing with the Past Reaching for the Future in an Intercultural Context 2010 Edition by Mamadou Diawara, Bernard Lategan, Joern Rusen
A vast amount of literature-both scholarly and popular-now exists on the subject of historical memory, but there is remarkably little available that is written from an African perspective. This volume explores the inner dynamics of memory in all its variations, from its most destructive and divisive impact to its remarkable potential to heal and reconcile. It addresses issues on both the conceptual and the pragmatic level and its theoretical observations and reflections are informed by first-hand experiences and comparative reflections from a German, Indian, and Korean perspective. A new insight is the importance of the future dimension of memory and hence the need to develop the ability to 'remember with the future in mind'. Historical memory in an African context provides a rich kaleidoscope of the diverse experiences and perspectives-and yet there are recurring themes and similar conclusions, connecting it to a global dialogue to which it has much to contribute, but from which it also has much to receive. Table of contents :- List of IllustrationsChapter 1. IntroductionMamadou Diawara, Bernard Lategan and Joern RusenFrom an African PerspectiveChapter 2. Social Theory and Making Sense of AfricaElisio MacamoChapter 3. History by Word of Mouth: Linking Past and Present through Oral MemoryAnnekie JoubertChapter 4. The Historical Memory and Representation of New Nations in AfricaBogumil JewsiewickiChapter 5. Memory, History and Historiography of Congo-ZaireJustin BisanswaChapter 6. Remembering the Past, Reaching for the Future Aspects of African Historical Memory in an International ContextMamadou Diawara Chapter 7. Remembering Conflict: The Centenary Commemoration of the South African War of 1899-1902 as a Case StudyAlbert Grundlingh Chapter 8. From Public History to Private Enterprise: The Politics of Memory in the New South AfricaPatrick HarriesChapter 9. Remembering with the Future in MindBernard LateganFrom an Intercultural PerspectiveChapter 10. Holocaust Experience and Historical Sense Generation - a German PerspectiveJoern RusenChapter 11. Ayodya, Memory, Myth: Futurising the Past - an Indian perspectiveRanjan Gosh Chapter 12. Human Suffering and Forgiveness: A dialogue with Kim Dae Jung - an East-Asian perspectiveHan Sing-JinTexts from the Praxis of Memory, Trauma, Forgiveness and HealingChapter 13. Remorse, Forgiveness and Rehumanization: Stories from South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation CommissionPumla Gobodo-Madikizela Chapter 14. Healing from Auschwitz and Mengele's ExperimentsEva Mozes Kor Notes on Contributors