#4: Not So Random Thoughts About History

What superpower would you like to have? And why your grandma may want to consider becoming a content creator. Also, history can be that spice you need.

Hallo Hallo,

I hope you're all doing well today. Long time no see. I am doing well, Alhamdulilah. What happened to April's piece? Errrmmm. I have no excuse to give 👉👈. Thanks for understanding.

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So, I am taking a little break from the usual series of interesting articles. In case you missed any, do check them out.

#2: What are you optimizing for?

#3: Spending Time With Our Loved Ones

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Today, I want to share some thoughts about “History” that's been on my mind for quite some time, and it comes in three parts. Here goes.

Part 1: Superpowers

You know those superhero movies, right? Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men... (I could continue but I am sure you get the idea). I've had countless conversations about which superpower is the coolest or most powerful (or, let's be honest, which could defeat the other). But that's not what we're focusing on today.

Instead, I want to ask: if you could have any superpower, what would it be?

There's no right or wrong answer here. It's all about personal preference and the limit of your imagination. So if you're up for it, do share.

The superpower that's always intrigued me the most is the ability to turn back time, or maybe even travel to the past or future. I think it's partly influenced by a movie I watched growing up called "Meet the Robinsons."¹

Why am I so fascinated by this? Well, whenever I visit new places, I can't help but wonder what (and how) life was like there 50 years ago, 100 years ago, or even further back. You know, imagining how things used to be. Pretty sure it is a different life entirely.

And I'm sure you've heard stories from your parents or elders about how things have changed over the years. It can seem unbelievable, especially if you've only never known a thing for other than what it currently is. For example, my mom once told me that an area used to be a huge cemetery, and now it's a residential area, or perhaps that large market you have known your entire life was not initially a marketplace.

Part 2: Tech and our Parents (Grand Parents)

A while back, a brother posted on his WhatsApp status asking how we could help the elderly, especially regarding opportunities in the tech sector. It got me thinking because most programs and initiatives typically focus on empowering the youth. I loved the shift in the target audience.

After thinking about it for a while, I realized that one valuable thing (amidst² other things) the elderly have is their knowledge of history (or more accurately, their experience).

Have you ever listened to your grandma talk about the past? I always loved hearing those stories, understanding (or at least trying to) how things were back then, and seeing how our perspectives as a family, people, and nation have evolved over the years.

Now, considering what Fuad and the archive team are doing,³ I think there's a great opportunity to merge these efforts. Here are a few ideas:

• Live story night sessions: Imagine paying to hear someone talk about "what life was like for me back then." It's not about being (politically) right or wrong, but rather about sharing lived experiences.

• Documentaries and other projects

The possibilities are endless really.

There would always be the "Official account", of how certain things happen in our history, but what about the experience of some middle-class family or an undergraduate student? or perhaps an ordinary soldier or even a community leader? It's the same moment in time, but without a doubt, their stories would be different. And I for one, would like to hear, read, and see these multiple narrations.

Part 3: History as a Spice

Now, this part is all about what I've gathered from some of my outings. I've come to appreciate how "history" can add that extra flavor to an experience.

Three particular outings come to mind:

1. San Siro Stadium: I'm not really a fan of football (I can watch the highlights and penalty shootouts, but a full game? Nahhhh) but when I was about to leave Milan after spending around 10 months there and San Siro stadium was about 30 minutes away or so, I thought, "Sure, why not?".

   What does a football stadium have to do with this post? Well, I was quite it interested in the presentation of the stadium's history. Despite not being a fan, hearing about the town's history, the stadium's humble beginnings, and the iconic matches played there almost made me a convert. It was quite impressive how they curated, preserved, and even profited from their history (entrance isn't free, lol).

2. Chocolate Factory: When I visited the chocolate museum at Colmar, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I mean, sure, I knew I'd be tasting some chocolate. But beyond the delicious treats, the museum provided an educational journey through the processing and manufacturing of chocolate. There were not only highlights of how chocolate impacted France and Europe as a whole, but how it was taken (the remakes of cups and the like were on display), people’s view of chocolate (now, it’s almost as though chocolate is in every snack and cookie but it was not always the case, at one point, it was a thing for royals) - It looked to me like deliberate preservation of history once again and using it for (as part of) promoting the museum. They are not much but here are some pictures.

3. Open Air Museum⁴: I remember it was just a random Google search for "day trips from Strasbourg." I wasn't sure what to expect, I could not understand why a couple of buildings were somehow recommended as a top attraction. My thoughts changed though after entering these remodels and seeing the attempt to capture and preserve the history of the region (Alsace)⁵. A good number of the buildings were pretty much from the last century but I imagine how valuable they would become in the coming century. This is a bit hard to put into words because there is a lot that can be said really. Here are some pictures if you’d like to see what I am referring to.

With each trip, I came to the same conclusion: History can be monetized. Who would've thought?

Today's piece turned out to be much longer than I anticipated, so I'll wrap it up here. Oh, and before I forget, it would be naive of me to assume that we don't have similar initiatives in Nigeria. If you're aware of any, please do share and I would like to hear about your thoughts and experience with regards to today’s piece.

Until next time, take care!

1. I intend to watch this again sometime soon. Maybe after I am done with my Thesis lol. Here’s the trailer on YouTube and yes! It’s a cartoon.

2. Believe it or not (read here), these words (Amidst and Amid) mean the same thing. Both mean to be in the middle of something or surrounded by something. Although these two words are interchangeable, the word amid is more commonly used. Many people think amid is used in American English, while amidst is used in British English, but that's not true.

3. Fuad and his team are on a mission to recapture lost Nigerian history. I think it is absolutely beautiful. Read more here. If you can, you should also donate as it would go a long way.

4. An open-air museum is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts outdoors.

5. Alsace is a historical region in northeastern France on the Rhine River plain. Bordering Germany and Switzerland, it has alternated between German and French control over the centuries and reflects a mix of those cultures.