MSUNDUZI/VOORTREKKER MUSEUM

Remembering the violence of the KZN 1987 to 1994: Auto/biographical accounts of the civil war and its aftermath

This conference intends to address the histories and memories as well as the aftermath of the political violence in KwaZulu-Natal, in the years of the UDF/ANC armed struggle and build up to the first democratic elections in 1994, and thereafter. The power struggle in the province is generally accepted as between the UDF/ANC and the Inkatha/IFP, the latter with Nationalist Government forces support. This civil war is especially associated with the ‘7 Days War’ of the Natal Midlands of 25th-30th March 1990 and the ‘Shobashobane Massacre’ of 25th December 1995. The major flashpoints were the Midlands (especially greater Pietermaritzburg, Richmond, Hammersdale, New Hanover and Howick), south coast (KwaShobashobane, Umbumbulu) and Zululand (Ongoye), etc.

The aim of this conference is to share the personal narratives and experiences of disruption and even trauma in ordinary peoples’ lives. Ordinary people can be anyone who was in anyway affected by the violence; this could include actual families with members of sexes and different ages, perpetrators and victims, helpers (like medical practitioners, priests, Red Cross and NGO’s) peace monitors, members of the KwaZulu police and old SAP. Also ordinary persons living in the neighbouring towns and cities, like media and academics (historians, sociologists, anthropologists, political analysts, psychologists), teachers, and business people across race.  This includes the aftermath effects on people’s lives; as in family break-ups, generational impacts, post-traumatic stress, attitudinal change, transformation, etc. The study of the international image of KwaZulu-Natal as a ‘hotspot’ is also welcomed.

Submissions are invited from any of the above categories of people. All papers should pertain to the specific themes as outlined. Selected papers will be published in book form.

Exhibitions are also invited on relevant themes, like ruins in photographic essays and/or paintings and children’s art of the period. There will be a school essay/art competition on families’ generational memories.

Abstracts should be between 200 and 300 words in length (Times New Roman, font 11, single spaced) and must include the following:

• Title of paper
• Discipline to which it belongs
• Author/s
• Affiliation/s
• Contact details.
  

Please forward abstracts to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Mxolisi Mchunu Tel: 033 3946834 Fax: 033 3946835 by 15 January 2010. You will be notified as soon as possible after this whether your proposal has been accepted. Full details regarding the conference will be made available in February 2010.

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