Memory dynamics: Forgotten and endangered history

Last week's column concerned the observation that the institutions of power in our society appear to be wired to affirm the position of the masters. The column employed the term 'puppeteering master' to convey the sad message that the independence project leaves a lot to be desired. I explained how both the past and the present seem to align when it comes to the role of the puppeteering master.

From this standpoint, a common African notion of 'the more things change, the more they remain the same' comes to mind. Although I have accepted that ours is a docile society and the views of columnists such as myself go unchallenged, I must thank all of you who reached out, with the exception of thirsty sexists, for further engagement.

I hope that one day you will share your wonderful views in the newspapers. You can also submit your well-considered views to [email protected].

Some of your views, in response to the column, are actually brilliant, and they have real prospects of changing our decaying society.

Today, we begin with this question: if laws, politicians and institutions of power operated in the interest of the masses, would everything 'be alright?', as Robert Nesta Marley once sang.

The easy answer is yes, from a patriot-nationalist perspective.

But, if one is to zoom further and consider what has happened to our society both before and after colonialism, then the need to go beyond the first answer becomes obvious.

Only those who think beyond the present are able to understand what is at stake. It is simple: with all that has happened before and after independence, what type of society will our grandchildren find? More concretely and penetratingly, will our grandchildren know or remember us? If they do, how will they remember us? Through what methods and lenses? There are further questions: how do our children and grandchildren think, and through whose lenses and mental faculties?

It may actually be argued that it is neither important nor worth knowing who cooked the first meal for President Sam Nujoma and what it was on the first day he returned home. This was 33 years ago. While this is not to be found in our recorded memory and historiography, someone has ensured that future generations know that Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) liked a particular cake and champagne that he frequently flew to Paris for.

Although what is considered good for political leaders may appear insignificant to an ordinary mind, it is actually one of the techniques European writers used to keep the monstrous story of Mobutu Sese Seko alive in the memory of both teachers and students of history.

Mobutu will forever be known and remembered, unless the narrative changes, as a dictator who flew to Paris for cakes. Our children will not be told how Mobutu contributed to the music of the Congo, which continues to thrive based on the very foundations he built.

Movies and comics are made about Idi Amin of Uganda as an uneducated soldier who became president and made many stupid choices.

Amin's role at the OAU and his firm opposition to the apartheid regime are conveniently erased from our memory so that our children do not know. These are the dynamics of memory. In our society, the writing, management and propagation of history are done the way they are because our leaders are more concerned about the sounds of their stomachs. Interestingly, they are seen at events telling stories about the history of KFC and how it spread. Memory politics remain, and our history is an endangered species. Imagine if there was a test on Namibian history administered to all members of parliament and Cabinet. How do you think these leaders will perform?

*Muthoni waKongola is a native of Kongola in the Zambezi Region primarily concerned with analysing society and offering ideas for a better Namibia. She is reachable at [email protected] or @wakongola on Twitter.