Public History and Memory-Making in Post-Conflict Ethiopia: An Action Research Study

Public history initiatives in post-conflict societies often aim to facilitate collective memory-making and reconciliation among communities affected by conflict. In Ethiopia, the Tigray conflict has led to significant human displacement and societal disruption. The research employed an action research approach, involving interviews with key informants from public history projects, focus group discussions with community members, and archival analysis of relevant documents. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews and thematic content analysis. Findings indicate that local communities play a crucial role in shaping narratives about the conflict, often emphasising themes of resilience and unity. Interviews revealed strong support for public history projects as means to preserve collective memory and foster dialogue among divided groups. Public history initiatives have emerged as effective tools for memory-making in post-conflict settings, particularly when they engage local communities actively. This study highlights the importance of community involvement for successful public history efforts. Future research should focus on evaluating long-term impacts of public history projects and exploring how these initiatives can be integrated into broader reconciliation processes within Tigray and beyond. Post-Conflict, Public History, Memory-Making, Community Engagement, Tigray