The Digital Age has drastically changed how oral histories are assessed, recorded and received. Today journalists compile stories of Covid-19, which people read at the moment, but they don’t use traditional oral history methods in doing so.
With the worldwide pandemic the focus has shifted to technology, using laptops and the Internet, and face-to-face interviews are now done by remote.
These points were raised by Dr Tshepho Mosweu, of the University of Botswana, who was speaking at the virtual National Oral History Colloquim held in the North West Province on November 18 and 19.
Dr Mosweu was talking on the subject of international and regional experiences on the future of oral traditions/histories in times of Technical Revolution and Pandemics in Society.
She quoted from Jan Vansisa, regarded as the father of oral traditions/history, who stated that in the past the written word gained prominence over the spoken word among the educated. It was only in the early 20th Century that the significance of oral history was recognised. The Continent before had no past or history to speak of and had little control over what was recorded. It was a blank, where foreign tutelage was the order and where there was no hope of becoming our own masters. Self pride was lacking and it was important to retrieve what we could from our African past and write our own history. A nation without a past is a lost nation and a people without a soul. “We should strive to continue to collect oral history because it gives a voice to the voiceless.”
She added that today she saw an increase in the number of communities and academic groups undertaking the collection of oral history, though in some countries, like Botswana and Zimbabwe, they are not collecting oral history at present and projects are on hold.
Challenges being faced at present, she said, were a state of dwindling funding, technology capabilities and legal issues on data and software use, all of which would have to be addressed.
Dr Mosweu formed part of a number of distinguished guest speakers at the Colloquium, including Prof Sekibakiba Legoati, of the University of the Witwatersrand, speaking on decolonising the South African School Curriculum: the role of oral history.
Prof NP Saurombe and Dr II Shellneck-Kelly of UNISA spoke on surveying History as a compulsory component of South Africa’s Basic Education programme. Dr Kogie Archary of MANCOSA and Regent Business School gave their perspective and insights.
In his talk, Prof. Sekibakiba Legoati outlined the duties of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on decolonising the South African School Curriculum. In 2015 MTT was launched, he explained, as it was felt there was a lack of social and historical consciousness, especially amongst the youth. It had to advise the Minister of Basic Education on the possibility of offering History as a compulsory subject in Further Education and Training, as well as to strengthen curriculum content from Grades 4-9.
The team conducted a basic international comparative study to inform their work on South Africa and find out what role history played in countries like Russia, Brazil, Uganda, China and India and what its value was. Views and feedback were also obtained from public presentations in nine provinces to inform the drafting of the report which was then submitted in May 2018.
Phase Two involves developing a new History curriculum, having public input and comments on the proposed new curriculum, screening new textbooks and History teacher development.
The Minister has not yet made a pronouncement on whether History will be made compulsory.
The President of the Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA), Prof Makgoatsana, outlined the impressive work undertaken by OHASA and their task was to “protect the narratives of our people and promote them because South Africa is one nation but it’s incomplete because it tells a separate story. The majority of the South African population is silently represented in the archives and museums. “We have to make sure these stories are told and reclaimed and restored for the South African population. The Oral History Association of South Africa will become a platform to tell stories of the majority of the South African population which have never been told before. Our duty is that we need to embrace technology even in the face of this pandemic.”
Ms Nocawe Mafu, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, addressing the colloquium virtually, said that today marks a very historic moment as it’s the first Colloquium in our history that people are attending virtually. “The pandemic allowed us new ways of doing things,” she stated, “changing the face of work and celebrating the new normal. “There is a way of framing this new experience and oral historians have more work than ever to capture the narratives and transform culture, heritage and society for ever. They have to make sure that it is not recorded in the history of mankind as another big bang moment, but that is recoded mindful of every moment of the transformation of society.”
Little time, she said, has been given to the people and their stories and how the virus has affected their lives. “It changed the face of the world and there are many stories to tell. How will we tell these stories going forward and find new ways of dealing with the new normal?”
The many different aspects of life in South Africa were covered during the Colloquium by a diverse range of speakers who provided rare insight on the way forward in recording our multifaceted history for posterity.
Traditions/Histories in Times of Technological Revolution and Pandemic in Society
The Digital Age has drastically changed how oral histories are assessed, recorded and received. Today journalists compile stories of Covid-19, which people read at the moment, but they don’t use traditional oral history methods in doing so.
With the worldwide pandemic the focus has shifted to technology, using laptops and the Internet, and face-to-face interviews are now done by remote.
These points were raised by Dr Tshepho Mosweu, of the University of Botswana, who was speaking at the virtual National Oral History Colloquim held in the North West Province on November 18 and 19.
Dr Mosweu was talking on the subject of international and regional experiences on the future of oral traditions/histories in times of Technical Revolution and Pandemics in Society.
She quoted from Jan Vansisa, regarded as the father of oral traditions/history, who stated that in the past the written word gained prominence over the spoken word among the educated. It was only in the early 20th Century that the significance of oral history was recognised. The Continent before had no past or history to speak of and had little control over what was recorded. It was a blank, where foreign tutelage was the order and where there was no hope of becoming our own masters. Self pride was lacking and it was important to retrieve what we could from our African past and write our own history. A nation without a past is a lost nation and a people without a soul. “We should strive to continue to collect oral history because it gives a voice to the voiceless.”
She added that today she saw an increase in the number of communities and academic groups undertaking the collection of oral history, though in some countries, like Botswana and Zimbabwe, they are not collecting oral history at present and projects are on hold.
Challenges being faced at present, she said, were a state of dwindling funding, technology capabilities and legal issues on data and software use, all of which would have to be addressed.
Dr Mosweu formed part of a number of distinguished guest speakers at the Colloquium, including Prof Sekibakiba Legoati, of the University of the Witwatersrand, speaking on decolonising the South African School Curriculum: the role of oral history.
Prof NP Saurombe and Dr II Shellneck-Kelly of UNISA spoke on surveying History as a compulsory component of South Africa’s Basic Education programme. Dr Kogie Archary of MANCOSA and Regent Business School gave their perspective and insights.
In his talk, Prof. Sekibakiba Legoati outlined the duties of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on decolonising the South African School Curriculum. In 2015 MTT was launched, he explained, as it was felt there was a lack of social and historical consciousness, especially amongst the youth. It had to advise the Minister of Basic Education on the possibility of offering History as a compulsory subject in Further Education and Training, as well as to strengthen curriculum content from Grades 4-9.
The team conducted a basic international comparative study to inform their work on South Africa and find out what role history played in countries like Russia, Brazil, Uganda, China and India and what its value was. Views and feedback were also obtained from public presentations in nine provinces to inform the drafting of the report which was then submitted in May 2018.
Phase Two involves developing a new History curriculum, having public input and comments on the proposed new curriculum, screening new textbooks and History teacher development.
The Minister has not yet made a pronouncement on whether History will be made compulsory.
The President of the Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA), Prof Makgoatsana, outlined the impressive work undertaken by OHASA and their task was to “protect the narratives of our people and promote them because South Africa is one nation but it’s incomplete because it tells a separate story. The majority of the South African population is silently represented in the archives and museums. “We have to make sure these stories are told and reclaimed and restored for the South African population. The Oral History Association of South Africa will become a platform to tell stories of the majority of the South African population which have never been told before. Our duty is that we need to embrace technology even in the face of this pandemic.”
Ms Nocawe Mafu, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, addressing the colloquium virtually, said that today marks a very historic moment as it’s the first Colloquium in our history that people are attending virtually. “The pandemic allowed us new ways of doing things,” she stated, “changing the face of work and celebrating the new normal. “There is a way of framing this new experience and oral historians have more work than ever to capture the narratives and transform culture, heritage and society for ever. They have to make sure that it is not recorded in the history of mankind as another big bang moment, but that is recoded mindful of every moment of the transformation of society.”
Little time, she said, has been given to the people and their stories and how the virus has affected their lives. “It changed the face of the world and there are many stories to tell. How will we tell these stories going forward and find new ways of dealing with the new normal?”
The many different aspects of life in South Africa were covered during the Colloquium by a diverse range of speakers who provided rare insight on the way forward in recording our multifaceted history for posterity.
