Completing the written history, the essence of the books is derived from Oral History interviews
The National Library and Archives Holds a Virtual Reading Session within the Book Series: “Their Memory—–Our History”.
The National Library and Archives (NLA) held a reading session of within the context of the Book Series: “Their Memory—–Our History”, which contains the Oral History interviews with elderly individuals from the UAE. The session underscored the series’ importance and examined its characters, sections, subjects, and features. It also illustrated that the Oral History interviews in the book “Their Memory—–Our History” enriched numerous historical documents and old photographs, identified by their owners and offered to be added to the NLA’s collection.
During the virtual session, Maitha Al Zaabi, Head of the Oral History Section, stated that the NLA has enriched its universal archives with oral narratives provided by individuals, who were witnesses of the era as complementation of historical documents. Additionally, these oral narratives enrich the local memory with the exploits of our ancestors, depicting their lifestyle in the desert and at sea, as well as their travels and activities. She added that these narratives also documented Emirati customs and traditions and recognized the spoken local dialect, contributing to instilling ancient values and fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty to the wise leadership.
Al Zaabi pointed out that the NLA planned to release the fourth part of the “Their Memory—-Our History” series to document more of the vivid memories and revelations of eyewitnesses, providing descriptions of significant events that occurred before and after the UAE Union, in addition to incidents that have been overlooked by the younger generation.
The session highlighted that the characters of the book “Their Memory—-Our History” constituted 36 individuals including 29 men and 7 women from across the Emirates. The Oral History Section at the NLA adapted specific methods and rules in accordance with international standards to conduct interviews with these Emirati figures, who possess rich information about the past, emphasizing the NLA’s initiative to interview elderly individuals who have witnessed significant events before and after the Union in order to enrich the book series :“Their Memory—-Our History”.
The session covered the topics of the book-:“Their Memory—-Our History”- in its three parts, total of 1405 pages. Among its prominent themes introducing the speaker, highlighting the sheikhs and leaders, historical events, personal narrators’ experiences in work outside the UAE, education and important aspects of heritage, agriculture and Aflaj system, folk medicine and traditional treatments, women’s conditions, industries and professions, construction and homes, life before and after the Union, and terminolo