Public History and Memory-Making in Post-Conflict Senegal: A Mixed Methods Inquiry

Public history projects in post-conflict societies often aim to facilitate memory-making among affected communities. In Senegal, post-independence conflicts have shaped contemporary societal dynamics and collective identity. The research combines ethnographic fieldwork and archival analysis to understand the role of public history in memory-making processes. Quantitative data on visitor engagement is collected alongside qualitative insights from interviews with historians and participants. A notable theme identified was the tension between preserving official narratives versus uncovering local histories, influencing visitor interaction patterns which revealed varied levels of interest across demographic groups. Public history in Senegal plays a crucial role in reconciling past conflicts through education and dialogue. Future projects should be more inclusive to reflect diverse community perspectives. Archives should prioritise accessibility for underrepresented communities, and historians must engage with local memories to enrich official historical narratives.