Preserving fading memories

Some 2700 ladies and gents attended a Grand Eid Function in Dar es Salaam last year at the Al Muntazir Complex which now also encompasses the recently purchased ex-Korean Complex. The occasion was grand and important because this was the first time that such a major communal event accomodating both men and women was held in Dar es salaam. Yet in the men and probably even the ladies side, there were no photographers to record the event.  Photographs are worth a thousand words and one wonders why we let such auspicious occasions go by without wanting to put them on record.

That was but one such occasion. Unfortunately there have been many similar occasions held and forgotten in a short time because no effort was made to record these. From the photographs we normally carry in each issue of the Federation Samachar on the Down the Memory Lane page, it appears that our community was more conscious about two decades ago then it is now on preserving records. Among the photographs we have carried are memorable photographs of groups traveling to Ziyarat that proudly posed for the camera to show one and all that they were about to embark on a holy journey.

In photographs snapped decades ago, one notices that photo sessions were by no means taken lightly. Groups dressed well for the photos and considering that many photographs were so clear, it is obvious that the task was handled by qualified photographers. Today we cherish the few old photographs that relate to us what happened in the years gone by.

During the early years of the Africa Federation, group photographs of all delegates attending annual meetings was an important part of proceedings. As a result we now have some very memorable group photographs of delegates who attended  the earlier meetings of the Supreme Council. In recent years there has been lesser emphasis on this and as a matter of fact there have been some meetings where group photographs have not even been taken. Don't we want to tell the posterity how proud we were to serve the Supreme Council and the community in order to also encourage them to be enthusiastically involved after we have passed away? If yes, we need to reinvigorate our efforts to create and preserve records. During the last Supreme Council Session in Zanzibar, time was allocated for group photographs but these were not to an 'archive preservation' quality. 

In the last two issues, the Samachar carried historic details of two Jamaats, the Kuwwatul Jamaat of Zanzibar and Nakuru Jamaat. In this issue we have touched upon the new Mosque in Zanzibar and the Mauritius Jamat. By jotting down facts and figures we actually write history. We have about 40 Jamaats in Africa and we appeal to each one to send us their historical background. This historical information can be covered in future issues of the Samachar. 

With each passing day, priceless representations of our history now held in old family photographs and documents are being lost or destroyed by lack of proper protection. Jamats should encourage “Life-writing” programmes whereby older adults are officially provided an opportunity for creative expression through sharing and communicating their life stories in relation to the community.

While photographic archives should form the nucleus of preservation efforts, these should be supplemented by oral history tapes, videos and documents, previous Federation or Jamat publications and details of each building or project undertaken by the Federation. It is hoped that what is still available to document our fading memories can be preserved for posterity and handed down to future generations for study and preservation.