Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home Africana Periodical Literature Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Making History: The Case of a Gola Origin Tale
Author:Azevedo, Warren L. d'ISNI
Year:2006
Periodical:Liberian Studies Journal
Volume:31
Issue:1
Pages:16-28
Language:English
Geographic term:Liberia
Subjects:Gola
oral history
legends
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
History and Exploration
Abstract:The author argues that, as with the Gola of western Liberia, 'a history' is both product and source of an individual or group's sustaining identity. The case of a Gola origin tale, constructed long before and reconstructed during recent traumatic events in Liberia - the civil war -, illustrates the manipulative aspect of history. The author presents two versions of Gola legends and pays attention, amongst others, to Gola distinction between what has actually happened and 'meaningful fantasy'. Furthermore, he shows how among Gola, after their traumatic experience of civil war, the urge to reconstruct history seems to be sprouting everywhere. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]
Views