African Oral History Project
Village Entry
Throughout this module you will:
- Learn to help explain why you are preserving African oral family histories and how this can benefit the villagers and their relatives.
- Learn how to set up an appointment with village leaders.
- Learn to request approval to enter the village and complete the project.
Audio Transcript
The purpose of this training module is to help you explain the African Oral Family History project to the chief or king of the village you visit and to help you receive approval to complete this important work in the community.
Throughout this module you will:
- Learn to help explain why you are preserving African oral family histories and how this can benefit the villagers and their relatives.
- Learn how to make an appointment with village leaders.
- Learn to request approval to enter the village and complete the project.
As you navigate this course, click the forward button at the bottom right of the screen to continue.
You will meet the king or chief and introduce yourself. This is called “village entry.”
Audio Transcript
A typical village or town is made up of 1,000 to 20,000 people. When you first arrive in a village, you will need to introduce yourself and meet with the king or chief to explain the oral history work. This is called “village entry.”
As the village leaders learn of your purpose, they will be able to understand how preserving their oral histories can benefit those who currently live in the village and those who no longer live in the village.
Explain in your own words the reasons for this work, including a desire to preserve the family stories, histories, memories, ancestral ties, and ways of life of the African village.
Audio Transcript
When you meet the leaders explain in your own words the reasons for this work, including a desire to preserve the rich family stories, histories, memories, ancestral ties, and ways of life of the African village. Emphasize the importance of families and the need to record all you can of them. Tell the leaders that you will give them a written copy of the oral history after you have completed the project so that the history will be preserved in writing as well as orally. Explain that FamilySearch, the organization behind this effort, will create an online record of the history. Remind the leaders that the reason for this digital copy is to make the information available to others, including those who have left the village. This would enable them to learn of their family roots and traditions.
The goal of this first visit is to schedule an appointment to meet with the village chief or king.
The chief and elders will want to know why you are there. It’s crucial that you help them understand the purpose of this work and how it can benefit their village.
Audio Transcript
The goal of this first visit is to schedule an appointment to meet with the village chief or king.
Typically, your next visit will be a more formal meeting. The chief and council members may be dressed for the visit, and you will go through traditional greetings.
The chief and council members will want to know why you are there. It is crucial that you help them understand the purpose of this work and how it can benefit their village, as has been described.
During this meeting, you are looking to receive the approval of the village leaders and seeking permission to work in their village.
Audio Transcript
During this meeting, you are looking to receive the approval of the village leaders and seeking permission to work in their village.
You may also begin to learn who the different heads of the clans and families are. A prominent member of the council, or even the chief himself, may introduce you to the heads of different families and clans. We will discuss this more in the next section.
You’ve completed the Village Entry module in the African Oral History Project training.
Audio Transcript
Congratulations! You’ve completed the Village Entry module in the African Oral History Project training. You may now move to the next modules to learn more about your role as you gather and preserve the family history of those you meet.
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