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Archival Platform February 2011 newsletter
EDITOR’S NOTE
Our year has got off to a flying start! Earlier this month, Xolelwa, Mbongiseni and I travelled to the Eastern Cape where we were privileged to meet and engage with some very inspiring people. In Grahamstown we attended a function held at the Cory Library to commemorate a historic conversation between Sir George Cory, founder of the library, and Regent King Manxiwa, the ruler of the amaXhosa. It was a wonderful event that reminded us of the role of the archive as an invaluable link between past and present.
We also popped in to the National English Literary Museum (NELM), where we marvelled at the extraordinary collections that record our English literary heritage. In Port Elizabeth we met with the South End Museum to plan a public meeting in March.
Two members of our steering committee, Verne Harris and Noel Solani, joined us in Mthatha where we met with archive activists and teachers to share ideas about the importance of family history. It was wonderful meeting that brought together people who don’t usually interact – and as we left, those in attendance were organising to stay in touch with each other, and with us. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the people of the Eastern Cape.
In our Ancestral Stories posts, one of our Eastern Cape contributors, Janet Hayward Kalis, shares some of her research into the cultural identity of entrants – of European, Asian and Khoisan descent – into Xhosa culture in the Transkei. Musa Hlatshwayo visits Durban’s Family History Centre while Busi Mnguni reviews Nelson Mandela’s Conversations with Myself and Mbongiseni Buthelezi ponders the diverse types of archives at work in this month’s stories
Mbongiseni’s been travelling far afield – to Timbuktu and back – and a trip he describes as life-changing.
We have been following a few big big stories relating to media and information this month. I turn my attention northwards and explore the debates around the use of social media in uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt as a tool for driving and documenting protest activity. We also draw your attention to the WITNESS initiative, “Cameras Everywhere”, and the role citizen journalists can play in social change. Archives have been used to highlight social injustices and repression across the world, yet governments in open and free democracies are increasingly limiting access to public information in the name of “national security”.
On the subject of information, and the critical role this plays in deepening democracy, we bring you up to date on the latest debates on the Protection of Information Bill and proposals to make changes to the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). We’re interested to hear that the Right2Know campaign has formally constituted itself as an organisation and we congratulate the South African History Archive (SAHA) on the excellent work they are doing to ensure that this Act is used to maximum effect. We also look at the latest development around WikiLeaks, and consider the implications of the exposure of “secret” documents for the promotion of human rights.
We’re also happy to hear that our colleagues have been hard at work promoting the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Harriet Deacon reports on the training materials she has been developing and the workshops she’s conducted on the convention. Rahul Goswami suggests that conventional economic growth and “the market” are the enemies of intangible cultural heritage and notes that recognising the central role of this heritage in helping communities adapt to scarcity and change will take more than a return to the drawing board of “development”. Vuyani Booi tells us of the role that the Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA) plays in promoting intangible cultural heritage.
On a national level, we’re please to see that the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has tabled its plans for 2011 and we report back briefly on their workshop on the National Policy on the Digitisation of Heritage Resources. We also welcome Roger Layton, the lead consultant on the team who developed this policy, as our newest Archival Platform correspondent. This month, Roger notes that, without a strategy on digitisation, institutions are moving into the unknown and may be wasting valuable funds on digitisation that is not in line with their vision. It is important to know who will benefit from digitisation and how . Roger’s post outlines this strategy as a series of choices and decisions that are made in framing a programme of digitisation. We look forward to sharing more of Roger’s expertise and advice in future newsletters.
The National Heritage Council (NHC) has called for comments on policy position papers on: repatriation, access, ethics and mainstreaming heritage in development. We urge you to give these serious consideration.
We’re constantly inspired by initiatives aimed at opening up the archive. In Tanzania, the site of the Laetoli footprints has been partially uncovered for assessment and viewing. Google’s Art Project makes high-level images of artworks from 17 galleries around the world available. An initiative is under way in East Africa to promote research into marginalised heritage sites, Kenya plans to showcase its slave history, and, in Cape Town, the District Six Museum has launched a new publication, Fields of Play: Football Memories and Forced Removals in Cape Town based on a previous exhibition by the same name.
It’s not all good news, however. In Britain, archaeologists are urging the government to rethink legislation that makes it a requirement to rebury human remains within two years of excavation – and the debate that pits researchers and human rights activists against each other rages on! We share concerns raised around the planned demolition of the Uganda Museum and the threat posed to Egyptian heritage by looters.
We are energised by the activity in our sector, inspired by the initiatives we’ve encountered, and looking forward to engaging with you in 2011.
Jo-Anne Duggan
Director
IN THE NEWS
The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) outlines its plans for 2011
These focus on key national priorities including social cohesion and economic development.
The Right2Know campaign has formally constituted itself as an organisation.
The Cory Library celebrates the 101st anniversary of an important conversation.
Egyptian museums under attack from looters
Egyptian authorities have taken action to protect museums and sites.
New guide to the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) launched
The South African History Archive (SAHA) has developed a workshop guide and DVD.
Partial reopening of the site of the Laetoli footprints
This site has been partially opened for public view and scientific assessment.
“Cameras Everywhere” initiative promotes active citizenship
WITNESS has launched a new leadership initiative on using “video for change”.
Update: Amendment to the Promotion of Access to Information Act
The South African History Archive (SAHA) has alerted us to proposed changes.
The Archival Platform visits the Eastern Cape
We look forward to more face-to-face engagements in 2011!
Update: Protection of Information Bill
Debates around this Bill rage on and we must remain vigilant!
Update: The “struggle song” saga continues
Julius Malema prepares to defend his right to sing Aw Dubul’ibhunu (“shoot the boer”).
Update: National Policy on the Digitisation of Heritage Resources
A brief report on the recent workshop.
Update: The release of documents by WikiLeaks impacts on human rights
The release of “secret” documents brings justice for some and puts others at risk.
Google launches the Art Project
Explore the collections of 17 art museums at your leisure.
Plans to showcase Kenya’s slave history
A new initiative aims to turn a curse into a blessing.
Heritage practitioners voice their concerns regarding proposals to demolish the Uganda Museum.
British archaeologists urge a rethink on reburial law
A requirement to rebury excavated human remains within two years dismays researchers.
Opportunities
Training
Designing and implementing a records management policy
Bloemfontein, South Africa, 9 to 11 March 2011
International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE)
Johannesburg, South Africa. Deadline for applications: 1 March 2011
International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) 2011 Summer School
Pretoria, South Africa, 27 March to 15 April 2011
Cultural management: Open University of Catalonia (UOC)
Online course
Fellowships and funding
The Shpilman Institute for Photography Grants Programme
Deadline for applications: 1 March 2011
Collaborating with the Commonwealth: The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Date of briefing session: 11 February 2011
Calls for contributions
Edited book on the challenges museums face
Jazz Research Journal: Special issue on jazz collectives
Deadline for submission of papers: 4 March 2011
UMAC 2011: the International Committee of ICOM for University Museums and Collections
Lisbon, Portugal, 21 to 24 September 2011
International Conference on Dublin Core and Metadata Applications
Deadline for submission of papers: 11 July 2011
Access to Information: The Afro-Caribbean Connection, 77th World Library and Information Congress: 77th IFLA General Conference and Assembly.
Deadline for submission of proposals: 21 February 2011
Human Rights, Literature, the Arts, and Social Sciences International Conference
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 31 May 2011
4th International Conference on African Culture and Development (ICACD)
Deadline for submission of papers: 6 June 2011
Other opportunities
Directory of Museum Professionals in Africa, AFRICOM
Deadline for submission: 15 March 2011
Conferences and Resources
Conferences
Sharing Truth: Creating a National Research Centre for Residential Schools
Vancouver, Canada, 1 to 3 March 2011
Justice? – Whose Justice? Punishment, Mediation or Reconciliation?
London, United Kingdom, 3 to 5 March 2011
International Federation of Film Archives: National Film, Video and Sound Archives Summer School
Pretoria, South Africa, 27 March to 15 April 2011
4th International Conference on African Culture and Development (ICACD)
Accra, Ghana, 24 to 27 July 2011
Human Rights, Literature, the Arts, and Social Sciences International Conference
Michigan University, USA, 10 to 13 November, 2011
Workshop on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme for South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa, 24 to 25 February 2011
Books and journals
Book: Peace Versus Justice? The Dilemmas of Transitional Justice in Africa. Edited by Suren Pillay and Chandra Lekha Sriram. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2011
Book: The Era of Transitional Justice: The Aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and Beyond. Paul Gready. Routledge, 2010
Online book: Access to Knowledge in Africa: The Role of Copyright. Edited by Chris Armstrong, Jeremy de Beer, Dick Kawooya, Achal Prabhala and Tobias Schonwetter. University of Cape Town Press, 2010
Online book: Managing Digital Collections: A Collaborative Initiative on the South African Framework. Edited by Pat Liebetrau and Jean Mitchell. National Research Foundation, 2010
Online book: Mapping Cultural Diversity: Good Practices From Around The Globe. Edited by Anupama Sekhar and Anna Steinkamp. German Commission for UNESCO, 2010
Online journal: The current issue of Politorbis, the journal of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, is devoted to articles on the theme “Dealing with the Past”.
Podcasts
Episode 47 of Africa Past and Present, the podcast about African history, culture, and politics is now available.
Opinions
Archival Platform
Fomenting or recording revolution?
Jo-Anne Duggan reports on the debates around the power and use of social media to mobilise, soliti support for, and record protest action in the Middle East.
From Cape Town to Timbuktu: A novice traveller’s reflections, part 1
Mbongiseni Buthelezi reports back on a life-changing trip to Timbuktu.
Ancestral Stories
Ancestral Stories February 2011
Mbongiseni Buthelezi suggests we pay careful attention to language in order to open the path to giving the future back its pasts.
Preventing loss: Durban’s Family History Centre
Musa Hlatshwayo finds out what Durban’s Family History Centre has been doing for the last 27 years.
Cultural identity of entrants into Xhosa culture
Janet Hayward Kalis gives us a glimpse into her research on the cultural practices of entrants – of European, Asian and Khoisan descent – into Xhosa culture in the Transkei.
Eavesdropping on Nelson Mandela’s conversations with himself
Busi Mnguni reviews Nelson Mandela’s Conversations with Myself.
Guest posts
A worldwide training programme on the intangible heritage convention
Harriet Deacon tells us about the train-the-trainer workshops she’s conducted and the material she’s developing around the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage!
A revolution for the intangible
Rahul Goswami argues that recognising the central role of intangible cultural heritage in helping communities adapt to scarcity and change will take more than a return to the drawing board of “development”.
OHASA and the promotion of intangible heritage in South Africa
Vuyani Booi tells us how the Oral History Association of South Africa is working to promote intangible cultural heritage.
Developing a digitisation strategy for your institution
Roger Layton explains the development of a strategy as a series of choices and decisions that are made in framing a programme of digitisation.
