Message of Support by the Deputy President of the Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA)

Delivered at the Oral History Colloquium, 25–26 September 2025 Moses Kotane District
Municipality, North West Province

Programme Director,
Representatives of the North West Provincial Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation,
Colleagues, partners, and fellow custodians of memory,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the Oral History Association of South Africa, I am honoured to extend our warmest greetings and strongest message of support to this important Oral History Colloquium, held under the powerful and thought-provoking theme: “Unheard, Unspoken, Unforgotten: Recovering Silenced Histories.”

This gathering is not just a reflection on the past—it is an act of restoration. It is a declaration that the voices erased from the official record are neither lost nor forgotten. Oral history is a tool of justice, dignity and healing. It affirms that every voice matters and that every community, no matter how remote or marginalised, carries stories that are vital to the complete tapestry of our nation’s history.

OHASA commends the North West Provincial Directorate of Library, Information and Archives Services for its continued commitment to unearthing and preserving these silenced histories. Your work is central to the national effort to democratise history and give rightful space to memory from below.

As OHASA, we believe that the oral history movement must be rooted in local communities and driven by local voices. In this regard, we wish to emphasise the importance of strengthening and revitalising the North West Province’s Oral History Chapter. A strong provincial chapter serves not only as a platform for training and collaboration but also as a living network for collecting, safeguarding, and sharing the unique narratives of this region. We stand ready to partner with you in this effort and offer our support in building a sustainable and inclusive oral history infrastructure in the province.

Let this colloquium inspire renewed commitment, deeper reflection, and greater unity in our shared mission to recover, record, and remember.

Unheard. Unspoken. Unforgotten.Let us continue to listen,
speak and remember—together.

Thank you.
Prof Sekibakiba Lekgoathi

Deputy President, OHASA
24 September 2025
Message of Support delivered by Linda Khoza, Deputy Secretary: OHASA