CALL FOR PAPERS/ABSTRACTS.
10th ORAL HISTORY CONFERENCE.
April 5, 2024
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS/ABSTRACTS: 15 May 2024.
FEEDBACK ON ABSTRACTS: 15 June 2024.
CONFERENCE DATE: 11-13 September 2024.
VENUE: GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT (TBC).
THEME: ORAL HISTORY IN THE 3 DECADES OF DEMOCRACY: REFLECTING ON THE SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES OF ORAL HISTORY IN SOUTH AFRICA.
South Africa, like other African countries, was occupied through colonialism. However, when the other African countries were freeing themselves from foreign occupation mostly by European powers, South Africa was placed under apartheid rule. Liberation movements were formed to free the black suppressed masses and the leaders sacrificed their lives to fight for freedom. After 1960 the South African liberation movements developed relations with some of the newly independent African countries. The latter willingly accepted this notwithstanding the risk of being attacked by apartheid South Africa. They deprived themselves of enjoying their new-found freedom. Instead, they opted to assist the liberation movements in cash and in kind. This speaks to the importance of unity of Africa. After decades of liberation struggle, South Africa finally gained her freedom in 1994. The advent of democracy stimulated a great deal of interest among scholars and school-going learners to research and record the history of the country in general and the history of the liberation struggle in particular. This has, over the years, resulted in several oral history research projects. In this conference, we will reflect on the successes and challenges of doing oral history. We will also reflect on the 15 years since Mpumalanga Province started hosting oral history conferences: two national and ten provincial conferences and explore how the introduction of oral history in schools as a research methodology, and the teaching and learning oral history in the classroom has benefited the province.
SUB-THEMES:
1. Memories, Orality and leadership beyond the rainbow nation.
2. The cultural unity of Africa and Africans; testimonies and narratives.
3. Oral history in the classroom, impact made.
4. Leadership and morality.
5. Putting sport on the spotlight.
6. Artificial intelligence and oral history.
7. Social media and its impact on oral history.
8. The role played by Indigenous Knowledge System on society: Past, present and future.
9. Unsung heroes/ heroines in the community.
10. Oral history and politics.
Abstracts are invited for contributions to the 10th Provincial Oral History Conference. Although the conference is primarily academic, case study reports and other contributions are welcome.
The contributions must be based on original work and have a clear focus on oral history.
NB: THIS IS AN ORAL HISTORY CONFERENCE: PAPERS DELIVERED MUST BE BASED ON ORAL HISTORY RESEARCH, AND NOT ONLY ON PUBLISHED SOURCES
If you are interested, please send us a short abstract including:
1. An abstract of your paper or case study report (100-300 words),
2. The relevant conference sub theme,
3. The title of your paper,
4. A short biography of yourself (50-100 words), and
5. Your contact information (name and surname, affiliation, postal address, e-mail address, telephone and/or cell phone, and fax numbers).
*Please see the template for submission of abstracts below
** THE DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS IS 15 MAY 2024
The duration of a presentation may not exceed 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute discussion. Please send your abstract to Mr. N Mahalefa, at nfmahalefa@mpg.gov.za
Convener of the 10th Annual Provincial Oral History Conference:
Mr. Nkitseng Mahalefa
Mpumalanga Provincial Archives
Tel: 013 766 5081 / Cell: 067 429 0866
The conference organizing committee will confirm acceptance or rejection of your abstract by
30 June 2024.
Please note that abstracts that are not submitted in the correct template will not be accepted.
SUBMISSIONS OF PAPERS AND FOR PUBLICATION
We have open arrangements with OHASA to submit papers to be published as conference proceedings and Social memory studies with HTS.
Enq; Prof Christina Landman at publications@ohasa.org.za