Public History and Memory-Making in Post-Conflict African Societies: A Nigerian Perspective

Public history and memory-making are crucial in post-conflict societies as they help communities to construct a shared narrative of their past events. Qualitative content analysis of historical documents, interviews with historians, and participant observation at memory sites. Historians have documented over 450 oral testimonies from survivors across age groups, revealing diverse perspectives on the war's impact. Digital platforms are increasingly used to archive and share these stories, fostering community engagement and reconciliation efforts. Public historians in Nigeria play a pivotal role in preserving and sharing memories of conflict through various media channels, contributing to national healing processes. Policy makers should support the development of digital archives for historical memory-making projects and encourage public history initiatives that involve diverse community members.