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Expanding the Archival Horizon: American Archives for Researching Postcolonial Rwandan History

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2017

Aya Tsuruta
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Abstract:

There is growing scholarly interest in the history of postcolonial Africa. However, this study entails several methodological challenges, including insufficient availability of archival materials. A multi-archival strategy offers one solution to the challenge of locating new documentary sources. In this paper, I suggest that nonconventional archives such as the National Archives of the United States should be explored in historical studies of postcolonial African countries, including smaller countries like Rwanda. Focusing on the political events that occurred in Rwanda in January 1961 that led to significant changes in the country, this paper demonstrates how American archival materials can enhance our understanding by shedding light on what existing colonial archives have not revealed.

Résumé:

L’histoire de l’Afrique postcoloniale suscite de plus en plus d’intérêt auprès des chercheurs. Cependant, cette recherche implique plusieurs défis méthodologiques, y compris celui du nombre insuffisant de documents d’archives. Une stratégie multi-archivistique offre une solution au défi de la localisation de nouvelles sources documentaires. Dans cet article, je suggère que des archives non conventionnelles telles que les Archives Nationales des États-Unis, devraient être utilisées pour étudier l’histoire postcoloniale des pays africains, y compris celle des pays plus petits comme le Rwanda. En mettant l’accent sur les événements politiques survenus au Rwanda en janvier 1961 qui ont entraîné des changements importants dans le pays, cet article démontre comment les documents d’archives américains peuvent améliorer notre compréhension de ces événements en éclairant ce que les archives coloniales existantes n’ont pas révélé.

Type
Archival Reports
Information
History in Africa , Volume 44 , June 2017 , pp. 265 - 283
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2017 

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