
The National Library and Archives held its seventh symposium of its 2022 cultural season on the various “Means of Employing Oral Memory in Preserving History”
The National Library and Archives held its seventh symposium of its 2022 cultural season on the various "Means of Employing Oral Memory in Preserving History"
The National Library and Archives held its seventh virtual symposium as part of its 2022 cultural season, entitled: “Means of Employing Oral Memory in Preserving History” on August 24th, with the participation of various Experts, Researchers and Specialists. It highlights the importance of oral history in documenting various historical events preserved in the memory of the narrators and senior citizens who witnessed such events prior to the union’s establishment, employing the National Library and Archives’ vast and leading experience in this field.
This virtual symposium aims at out-reaching all interested audience to encourage senior citizens and residents to out-pour and document their preserved memories through the National Library and Archives’ Oral History Archives, to serve and contribute to the glorious history and heritage of the UAE, and to the preservation of its cherished values, principles, customs and traditions in which the UAE community takes great pride. Since oral history is concerned with recording and documenting the intangible UAE history and heritage, through oral narratives and accounts preserved through the memories of senior citizens and figures’ who witnessed those historical events in the past. The National Library and Archives has attached great interest and significance to Oral history as it constitutes an integral part of the memory of the nation, and a key source and reference for the UAE and the region’s history and heritage.
The National Library and Archives’ keen interest in enriching the oral history archives with hundreds of interviews aims at raising young generations’ awareness of the various UAE regions’ ways of life in the past and the stages of its development before and after the union’s establishment. It is note-worthy that the National Library and Archives experts and specialists also conduct audio and audio-visual interviews. The National Library and Archives delegations of oral history specialists are always welcomed and appreciated by many senior citizens who facilitate their tasks and provide them with highly important information on the early stages of the UAE establishment at the hands of its founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his fellow Rulers of the Emirates.