Kenya and South Korea
11 July 2011
KENYA AND SOUTH KOREA VOICES FROM THE CITIES Professor Peter Wasamba of the University of Nairobi, Kenya introduces a new joint oral history research project involving universities in Kenya and Korea:
‘This project focuses on people’s perceptions of urbanisation in Kenya and Korea and is led by Professor Peter Wasamba in Kenya and Dr Park Young from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea. The research project is funded for two years, from November 2010 by the Academy of Korean Studies in Seoul; interviewing will start in March 2011. ‘Both Kenya and Korea experienced rapid urban growth during the second half of the twentieth century, and it had a significant impact on both societies. Rapid urbanisation is associated with a number of problems such as deterioration in urban physical environments, lack of shelter, displacement of indigenous populations, inflated land prices, traffic congestion, rise in crime and the decline of general living conditions of the urban poor.
‘We argue that the modification of urban development strategies, occasioned by changes in the global political economy, necessitated urban restructuring in the capital cities of Kenya and Korea from as early as the 1980s. It is in this regard that this study documents memories about urban restructuring in the capital cities using the methodology of oral history.
‘For a long time, the study of urbanisation has largely been dominated by quantitative analysis of statistical data. This is precise in terms of describing patterns of economic and social mobility but less effective at looking into the impacts of urbanisation on the lives of city residents. ‘Significantly the use of oral history will “give voice” to ordinary people in urban settings and particularly to ones whose voices are often not listened to.
It provides an opportunity for the perspectives of urban women, the elderly, people with disabilities and youth to take centre stage in the history of urbanisation in the two cities.’ l For more information about the project please contact Professor Peter Wasamba: pwasamba@yahoo.co.uk
Source: International News Section of UK's Oral History Journal, Spring 2011, p24.
Number of Visits: 5073








The latest
- The Embankment Wounded Shoulders – 13
- The Necessity of Standardizing Oral History and Criticism of General Mohsen Rezaei
- The 368th Night of Remembrance – Part 1
- Oral History News of Khordad 1404 (May 22nd – June 21st 2025)
- Najaf Headquarters Human Resources
- The Embankment Wounded Shoulders – 12
- Annotation
- The 367th Night of Memory– 5
Most visited
Operation Beit al-Moqaddas and Liberation of Khorramshahr
After Operation Fat’h al-Mobin, we traveled to Kermanshah and visited Sar-e-Pol-e-Zahab before heading to Ilam. During Operation Beit al-Moqaddas, the 27th Brigade was still receiving support from the West. We maintained contact with individuals who had previously worked in Area 7 and were now leading the brigade. It was through these connections that I learned about Operation Beit al-Moqaddas.Memoirs of Hujjat al-Islam Reza Motalebi
Hujjat al-Islam Reza Motalebi is a cleric from Isfahan. Before the revolution, he was the imam of the Fallah Mosque – which was later renamed Abuzar Mosque. By his presence and efforts, Abuzar Mosque soon became a base for supporters of the Imam and the revolution. After the victory of the revolution, he played a role in uniting forces and maintaining political vitality in southwest Tehran.The Necessity of Receiving Feedback in Oral History
Whenever we engage in a task, we naturally seek ways to evaluate our performance — to correct shortcomings and enhance strengths. Such refinement is only possible through the feedback we receive from others. Consider, for instance, a basketball player whose shots are consistently accurate; should he begin shooting blindfolded, his success rate would rapidly decline, as he would be deprived of essential feedback from each attempt.Sir Saeed
The book “Sir Saeed” is a documentary [narrative] of the life of martyr Seyyed Mohammad Saeed Jafari, written by Mohammad Mehdi Hemmati and published by Rahiyar Publications. In March 2024, this book was recognized as one of the selected documentary biographies in the 21st edition of the Sacred Defense Book of the Year Award. The following text is a review on the mentioned book.
