“Our stories flow beyond borders, even when politics tries to keep us apart.” With these words, Rosebell Kagumire reminded us of the power of storytelling as a tool for resistance, communion, and liberation. Stories transcend artificial boundaries, challenge dominant narratives, and reclaim the knowledge systems that colonial histories have sought to erase. It is in this spirit that we gathered on the 18th of March to celebrate the launch of the Library of Perspectives, a dynamic digital repository that stands as a living, breathing archive of resistance, centering the lives and work of women. This initiative contributes to the disruption and replacement of the knowledge hierarchy primarily shaped by colonial, capitalist disruptions with indigenous knowledge systems.
The launch was graced by a rich and thought-provoking conversation, moderated by Sunshine Komusana, and steered by an inspiring panel of speakers whose oral stories serve as the first living books in the library. Among them were Sibongile Ndashe from South Africa, Grace Maroy from Congo, Reem Abbas from Sudan, Marie Rose Romain Murphy from Haiti, and Rosebell Kagumire from Uganda. Each of these remarkable women shared their experiences of participating in oral storytelling and reflected on the profound role that such narratives play in shaping movements and preserving histories.
Omolara Oriye, co-dreamer of Liberation Alliance Africa, eloquently described the genesis of the Library of Perspectives, stating, “This work of Liberation is not something that just exists outside of us. It is something that should exist inside of us. It must begin with the interrogation of self and our colonial programming.” She further emphasized that knowledge is not something to be passively received but something deeply rooted in our ancestral wisdom, emotions, and lived experiences: “We are not just takers of knowledge. We possess ancestral knowledge, feelings, permutations, thoughts, and experiences that are uniquely ours.”
These words rang true in the context of places like Sudan, where war has raged for over a year. Reem Abbas reflected on the deeper implications of this conflict, stating, “For many people, it’s a conflict between the military and the paramilitary, but it’s really also a conflict and an attack on the country’s identity.” She went on to describe how, as a result, “They have destroyed a lot of museums, documents, and local research centers—so much of the history that binds us has been looted and erased during this war.” In the face of such erasure, she emphasized the importance of oral storytelling as a means of survival and resistance: “We are really left with our history—our oral history, our understanding, the clothes we wear, the beliefs we hold, the songs we sing, and the poetry we cherish.”
Her reflections underscored the urgency of archives like the Library of Perspectives, which serve as vessels for knowledge preservation in times of upheaval. The destruction of historical records is not just an attack on the past but a deliberate attempt to shape the future by erasing the voices and struggles of those who came before us. This makes oral storytelling an act of defiance and a crucial tool in safeguarding the truth.
Among the speakers, Grace Maroy, who has been living and working in Congo amid ongoing conflict, highlighted the importance of being part of the Library of Perspectives. She underscored that while the world moves forward, Congolese women and girls continue to struggle for survival. She reminded us that storytelling should not be confined to times of struggle but must serve as a foundation for movements striving for justice and change.
Rosebell Kagumire addressed the borderlessness of storytelling, emphasizing oral traditions as tools for dismantling artificially imposed colonial borders and fostering solidarity based on shared realities. She passionately urged us to resist the erasure of our histories by preserving our languages, which serve as granaries for our collective memory. “Our stories flow beyond borders, even when politics tries to keep us apart,” she said, adding, “To decolonize knowledge, we must first decolonize the way we tell our stories.”
Sibongile Ndashe reinforced the idea that liberation narratives must be holistic. “Liberation isn’t just about hardship. We must also tell stories of joy, of love, of the ways we lift each other up,” she stated, reminding us that resistance is also about celebrating the resilience, triumphs, and shared humanity of women across different contexts.
The Library of Perspectives was officially launched, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the preservation and amplification of women’s voices and histories. This archive stands as a beacon of resistance, a vessel for ancestral wisdom, and a space for storytelling that transcends time and borders. The Library is now accessible to all, inviting engagement, reflection, and participation in the continued work of liberation.
Explore the all the human books and engage with the modules at The Library of Perspectives.
