 Prof William Beinart, Oxford University, delivers the keynote address
The listeners (from left) are Prof Julie Parle, Vice-President of the Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Prof Jane Carruthers, President and co-organiser, Department of History, Unisa; Prof Louis Molamu, Registrar, Unisa; & Nicholas Southey, co-organiser, Department of History, Unisa
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A new perspective on history
The 22nd Biennial Conference of the Southern African Historical Society, held on the Sunnyside campus from 22 to 24 June 2009, was a resounding success.
More than 100 delegates, many from Botswana, Zimbabwe, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as all the regions of South Africa attended. Around 75 papers on a wide range of topics were presented in line with the conference theme of "Breaking boundaries, blurring borders: the changing shape and scope of southern African historical studies".
The opening address by Prof Mandla Makhanya, Unisa's Pro-Vice-Chancellor, was read by Unisa's Registrar, Prof Louis Molamu, who noted with pleasure how the aims of this conference aligned themselves with Unisa’s commitment to develop a new intellectual climate of interdisciplinary and socially responsive topics which take their cue from local knowledge situated in a broad global framework.
The keynote lecture, entitled "History from below: potentials and limitations", was given by Oxford University professor, Prof William Beinart. Other important southern African academics included two NRF Research Professors, Carolyn Hamilton of the University of Cape Town, Philip Bonner of the University of the Witwatersrand, and Dr Graham Dominy, the National Archivist.
Thanks to Prof Raymond Suttner’s organisation, Prof Tom Karis, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Unisa on 22 June 2009, and his wife, Mary, together with Prof Gail Gerhart, joined the conference on its second day, much to the delight of the participants.
The organisers were especially gratified by the innovative work presented by the large number of postgraduate students. Compliments about the conference included the following: "As a student, I felt welcome and found it inspiring to be there"; "Certainly the best SAHS conference I’ve been to --- a new moment in the discipline’s own history"; "Your guest and honorary speakers added a solid dimension and your plenary archives and journal sessions were terrific"; "The student mentor session was a wonderful initiative". |
