They discussed the problem of its development, calling for more cooperation
Researchers: The UAE's experience in documenting oral history is unique
Part of the conference, which hosted a number of specialists in the field of oral history. Photo: Eric Arazas
Abdullah Majid Al Ali: “Oral history is an important source in the history of nations and peoples.”
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Researchers have confirmed that oral heritage is one of the most important sources of consolidating national identity, introducing future generations to their history and the characteristics of their societies, and the sustainability of the heritage.
Pointing out the uniqueness of the UAE's experience in this field.
They called for more cooperation between countries to preserve and document history and address the challenges of its development.
The Director General of the Archives and National Library, Abdullah Majid Al Ali, pointed out the importance of oral history as a feasible and effective way to record and preserve memory and events that have been forgotten by time. Oral history is an important source in the history of nations and peoples.
As the historical facts remain preserved for those who lived in them, they are able to give the true account of him.
He praised the narrators' cooperation with the researchers and their understanding of the importance of their efforts.
“As soon as the archive and the National Library opened the way for the senior citizen narrators to document their memories in its records;
Until they realized with their sense of patriotism that this is a patriotic duty, so they welcomed the archive and national library teams of experts and specialists that rushed to them wherever they were in the emirates and regions of the country.
Recommendations
The conference recommended that the concerned institutions conduct a survey of the areas from which they need to collect oral history, and circulate that to universities and research centers to be a field of work for researchers, stressing the importance of training a group of academic and field researchers on the best and latest methods of codifying oral history;
To unify frameworks in interviews and collection.
He also called for government agencies to adopt projects for researchers who are not affiliated with concerned authorities, and to agree with parties outside the country to benefit from their experiences in documenting oral history, linking the curriculum to oral history to benefit from its topics, and including social media among the sources of intangible heritage collection as an easy and fast way to reach To a large audience, and adjust the collection via social media to revive and sustain the heritage.
Unique experience
While the Assistant Professor of Popular Literature at the Higher Institute of Folklore, Academy of Arts in Cairo, Dr. Mohamed Hassan Abdel Hafez, praised the UAE’s experience in collecting oral heritage, and the distinguished projects and initiatives it launches, including the series “Their Memory Our History”, which he described as one of the major projects it offers. The state.
Pointing out that the importance of these projects is due to the fact that memory protects societies and individuals from division and collapse in the circumstances the world is witnessing, and contributes to the transfer of memory to the current and unborn generations.
Referring to the uniqueness of the UAE's experience in this field, he explained that it was distinguished by its celebration of the popular heritage, which has always been treated among elites and academic institutions around the world as a marginalized culture, with the exception of some elites who have favored folklore and oral history.
Dr. Abdel Hafez touched on some problems in the field of oral history, stopping in front of research methods in this field, as there is no specific methodology, but the choice of methodology depends on several factors related to the research team and the extent of its preparation and love for its national work that protects humanity and its history.
personal experience
While the Director of Heritage Projects at the Emirates Diving Association, Juma bin Thalith Al-Hamiri, in his intervention titled “Human Treasures.. A Hadith with Shajoun”, reviewed his personal experience in collecting heritage from narrators and the elderly, how to deal with them, and the difficulties that the researcher may face in dealing. With them, he wrote 14 books.
Pointing out that his media experience helped him deal with narrators, communicate with them and encourage them to tell the information they have.
He pointed out that the researcher must adhere to the “al-Sana’” and have the ability to ask questions in a way that does not alienate the narrator from him, and to be keen to obtain information from its owner and not to quote from people.
While a professor of postgraduate studies in the Department of Administration and Fundamentals of Education at the University of Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Saleh Al-Dawsi Al-Zahrani, focused on developing scientific research methodologies in the field of oral history, stressing that the more the methodology is rigorous, the more scientific it is and vice versa.
Pointing out that history is not only for the sake of novels, but rather for the sake of employing them in the present, benefiting from the heritage of the past, and predicting the future.
He reviewed methods and software for analyzing written, audio and visual texts, and drawing judgment from them.
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