past projects

A PAST PROJECT HERE AT oshakati CAMPUS WAS THE HISTORY RESEARCH PROJECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL NAMIBIA

North Central Namibia is endowed with a rich history and cultural heritage. However, awareness of its importance and relevance to the community is poor. In the past, very little was done to document, promote and preserve the history and cultural heritage of the four political regions (Omusati,Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto) of Northern Namibia (the former owamboland). In efforts to lay a foundation, promote research activities and encourage conservation and preservation of the community's marginalized heritage resources, a History Research Project was established in January 2000 at Oshakati Campus of the University of Namibia.

The Project's objectives were defined as follow:

• To define the history of the North Central Regions.
• To gather information of historical importance from oral tradition.
• To gather and arrange collections of cultural and traditional objects and to record their uses.
• To identify and describe sites of historical significance.
• To arrange displays and exhibitions that will stimulate interest and discussion.
• To propagate an on-going interest in history and heritage through the media.
• To collaborate with local, regional, national and international bodies which have similar objectives.
• To publish findings in ways that are accessible to a wide range of readers.

The Project has been funded by The Ford Foundation since its inception, January 2000. Within a two year period, the Project has accomplished quite a lot as enumerated below. In April 2001,the Project was praised by Dr. Emita Hill (Chancellor Ermeritus, Indiana University, Kokomo) a mentor for the Director: Oshakati Campus, after spending a month on the Campus and reviewed all Campus programs and activities. In her report before leaving the Campus she stated that:

" One of the most innovative and potentially valuable Project initiated by the Ford Foundation was Oshakati Campus History Project...This deserving project has the potential to expand quite far and to create a significant oral history and photo history archives, but for this to happen, a targeted budget for the project will be necessary.

The University sees the Project as an important and major contribution to cultural development in the North Central Regions of Namibia.

The Project's principal components:

• Project Management and staffing
• Oral History collection
• Ongushu yomuthigululwakalo: The Dissemination of Research findings.
• Collection of cultural artifact and development of historical displays
• Plans to establishment a local History Association