Public history and memory-making are crucial in post-conflict societies as they help communities heal and move forward from traumatic pasts. In Senegal, which has experienced several conflicts including those related to slavery and independence struggles, these processes are ongoing and complex. This qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders such as historians, educators, and community leaders to gather data on public history initiatives. Additionally, focus group discussions were conducted with local residents to capture their perspectives on these efforts. Findings indicate that while there is a significant emphasis on oral histories and historical reenactments in promoting memory-making, the proportion of educational programmes focusing on contemporary issues related to conflict remains limited. There was also variation in how different communities interpret and engage with public history initiatives. The findings suggest that although public history initiatives play an important role in fostering collective memory, their effectiveness could be enhanced by incorporating more diverse and current content into their curricula. Recommendations for future research include a deeper examination of the impact of digital platforms on public history efforts and exploring how international partnerships can support local initiatives. For practitioners, recommendations focus on diversifying educational programmes to better reflect contemporary societal issues.
Sabrina Diouf (Sun,) studied this question.