The Repatriation of the Black Consciousness-Oriented Movements Archives to Fort Hare

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper unravels the problems and challenges faced by the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) during the repatriation of its archival material to Fort Hare. One argument that this paper makes is that the politics of archival repatriation and preservation are linked intrinsically to broader questions of South African politics and historiography. There is however an underlying point of more general significance. An acute awareness about the making of any archival collection is essential, particularly in the context of the highly contested and controversial field of South African liberation politics. In this context, the author argues that most heritage sites and monuments erected in the post-apartheid South Africa are a reflection and celebration of ANC history and heritage. Considering this, it is possible for individuals to conclude that the repatriation of the BCM consignment to Fort Hare is of no significance and that no lessons can be drawn from this experience. Yet, the BCM experience is equally important in further understanding the nuances and challenges of the repatriation of archival material.