Tinaye Agere
Harmony Agere
A PAN-African think tank based in Zimbabwe, the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK), has started the process of publishing the first-ever edition of the Chimurenga Encyclopaedia.
The Chimurenga Encyclopedia is expected to, among other things, provide comprehensive accounts of the philosophy and practice of the African Nationalism that inspired the First, Second and Third Chimurenga.
INSTAK will start the process by convening a consultative forum to be held on June 19 at Heritage Village in Liberation City, Harare.
The institute has also invited experts from various fields such as African history, the media and war studies to participate in the consultative forum.
“The monumental research and publishing initiative is a definitive multi-disciplinary publication that holistically captures the First, Second and Third Chimurenga in a single tome that will be available to Zimbabwe and the world digitally and in print formats,” said INSTAK in a statement released on Thursday.
“Among these foundational processes is the convening of the Consultative Forum on the writing of the first edition of the Chimurenga Encyclopaedia.
“The consultative forum is open to all individuals and institutions interested in contributing research to The Chimurenga Encyclopaedia.”
The Consultative Forum on the Writing of The Chimurenga Encyclopaedia brings together a myriad stakeholders whose role is to both enrich the production processes as well as contribute entries to the publication.
The writing of the Chimurenga Encyclopaedia is in line with the Second Republic’s call for Zimbabweans to write their own history and preserve culture and heritage.
According to both African and Eurocentric writers, Africa’s scholarship has often been stolen, with the contributions of African researchers — mostly women — erased by more famous European names.
INSTAK has previously produced the Book of African Records and The Africa Factbook, the latter with support from the Government of Zimbabwe and the African Union.
At present, INSTAK is spearheading the development of the Liberation City, whose marque project is the Museum of African Liberation.
The project is being undertaken with the full support of the Government of Zimbabwe and in collaboration with other governments and local and international partners.
Online Reporter