Imagining Futures: Memory and Belonging in an African Family

Imagining Futures by Carola Lentz and Isidore Lobnibe explores how shared memories bind an extended African family together, despite living far apart and working in diverse occupations. The book offers a unique contribution to memory studies, showing that memories are not static but are shaped by current concerns and imagined futures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

In their groundbreaking work, "Imagining Futures," authors Carola Lentz and Isidore Lobnibe offer a unique and insightful exploration of one extended African family, currently comprising over five hundred members in Northern Ghana and Burkina Faso. These members, like many others in the region, find themselves living increasingly farther apart and engaging in diverse occupations, ranging from religious clergy and civil service to farming. What truly binds this extended family together? In their compelling argument, Lentz and Lobnibe contend that shared memories, rather than solely material interests, hold the key to maintaining familial bonds.

Through their meticulous research, Lentz and Lobnibe delve into the changing practices of remembering within this African family. They argue that memories are not static accounts of the past but rather dynamic and shaped by both current concerns and imagined futures. In an increasingly globalized and postcolonial world, memories become malleable and intertwined with the broader social and political context.

Lentz and Lobnibe explore how the members of this African family navigate the complexities of memory and identity in the context of their changing lives. They observe how memories are used to preserve cultural heritage, maintain social connections, and navigate the challenges of migration and displacement. They also highlight how memories can be contested, manipulated, and transformed as individuals and families negotiate the complexities of contemporary life.

"Imagining Futures" makes a significant contribution to the growing field of memory studies, expanding the scope beyond the traditional focus on Europe and America. The book offers a fresh perspective on the role of memory in shaping individuals, families, and communities, and sheds light on the ways in which memories can both unite and divide people.

In conclusion, "Imagining Futures" is a groundbreaking work that provides a profound understanding of the complex dynamics of family and memory in an African context. Through their insightful analysis, Lentz and Lobnibe challenge our assumptions about what keeps families together and offer a valuable contribution to the field of memory studies. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the role of memory in shaping our lives and the world around us.

Weight: 604g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253060211