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The Africa Institute organized a Faculty Seminar Series featuring Emery Kalema, Assistant Professor of History at The Africa Institute who delivered a lecture titled “Space, Mobility, and Displacement: The Mulele ‘Rebellion’ in Postcolonial Congo” on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
The Mulele rebellion, which took place from 1963 to 1968 in the Kwilu region of the Congo during the Cold War era, holds immense historical importance. Led by Pierre Mulele, the rebellion aimed to free the Congolese state from perceived Belgian neo-colonial domination, resulting in widespread violence and loss of life. The seminar thereby delved into the experiences of individuals affected by the Mulele rebellion, emphasizing the intricate connection between suffering and the violent space in which it occurred.
“Violent conflicts, in their nature, always shatter the mental, temporal, and spatial frameworks by which people make sense of their lives,” said Professor Kalema. His lecture primarily focused on the interconnectedness between space, mobility, and displacement within the context of the Mulele rebellion. He shed light on the profound impact of suffering, explaining how it became deeply embedded within the spaces where the rebellion unfolded. By examining the continuous movement of people within these spaces, Professor Kalema uncovered the complex relationships between suffering, embodiment, and memory.
Professor Kalema argued that the eruption of conflicts in the Congo shattered the previous logic of daily life, resulting in disruption, violence, and forced movement. This not only affected physical bodies but also significantly influenced individuals’ relationship with their environment. Throughout the lecture, Professor Kalema stressed the importance of employing diverse approaches to comprehend the profound significance of suffering in this historical context.
The scars left on the bodies of Mulele rebellion survivors carry symbolic meaning, serving as a testament to the arrest and annihilation of future possibilities.” One must consider the lasting impact of violence on both the body and the collective memory of a society,” said Professor Kalema who holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of the Witwatersrand.
The seminar, skillfully moderated by Amy Niang, Associate Professor of Political Science at The Africa Institute, provided a platform for engaging scholarly discussion. It not only demonstrated The Africa Institute’s commitment to fostering critical thinking in African and African Diaspora studies but also highlighted the importance of understanding historical traumas for shaping a better future.
The Africa Institute organized a Faculty Seminar Series featuring Emery Kalema, Assistant Professor of History at The Africa Institute who delivered a lecture titled “Space, Mobility, and Displacement: The Mulele ‘Rebellion’ in Postcolonial Congo” on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
The Africa Institute organized a Faculty Seminar Series featuring Emery Kalema, Assistant Professor of History at The Africa Institute who delivered a lecture titled “Space, Mobility, and Displacement: The Mulele ‘Rebellion’ in Postcolonial Congo” on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
The Mulele rebellion, which took place from 1963 to 1968 in the Kwilu region of the Congo during the Cold War era, holds immense historical importance. Led by Pierre Mulele, the rebellion aimed to free the Congolese state from perceived Belgian neo-colonial domination, resulting in widespread violence and loss of life. The seminar thereby delved into the experiences of individuals affected by the Mulele rebellion, emphasizing the intricate connection between suffering and the violent space in which it occurred.
“Violent conflicts, in their nature, always shatter the mental, temporal, and spatial frameworks by which people make sense of their lives,” said Professor Kalema. His lecture primarily focused on the interconnectedness between space, mobility, and displacement within the context of the Mulele rebellion. He shed light on the profound impact of suffering, explaining how it became deeply embedded within the spaces where the rebellion unfolded. By examining the continuous movement of people within these spaces, Professor Kalema uncovered the complex relationships between suffering, embodiment, and memory.
Professor Kalema argued that the eruption of conflicts in the Congo shattered the previous logic of daily life, resulting in disruption, violence, and forced movement. This not only affected physical bodies but also significantly influenced individuals’ relationship with their environment. Throughout the lecture, Professor Kalema stressed the importance of employing diverse approaches to comprehend the profound significance of suffering in this historical context.
The scars left on the bodies of Mulele rebellion survivors carry symbolic meaning, serving as a testament to the arrest and annihilation of future possibilities.” One must consider the lasting impact of violence on both the body and the collective memory of a society,” said Professor Kalema who holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of the Witwatersrand.
The seminar, skillfully moderated by Amy Niang, Associate Professor of Political Science at The Africa Institute, provided a platform for engaging scholarly discussion. It not only demonstrated The Africa Institute’s commitment to fostering critical thinking in African and African Diaspora studies but also highlighted the importance of understanding historical traumas for shaping a better future.
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