At the heart of historical memory lies the responsibility to reflect, to remember, and to act. In this edition of the JHIA Newsletter, we bring together voices that echo this commitment; voices that challenge us to engage with history not as passive observers but as active participants in shaping a just and peaceful future.
We begin by honoring the life and legacy of Fr. Paulin Manwelo, whose passing has left an indelible mark on those who knew him. As a scholar, educator, and Jesuit priest, Fr. Manwelo dedicated his life to the pursuit of intellectual rigor, justice, and service. His leadership at Hekima University College and his contributions to peace studies remain as footprints in the soft cement of history, evidence of a life lived with purpose. In his requiem homily, Fr. José Minaku, reminded us that while a person’s face may fade with time, their impact endures through the lives they have touched.
This theme of enduring memory finds resonance in Fr. Jean-Luc Enyegue’s article on Engelbert Mveng, and his contributions to Cameroon’s historiography. Mveng, a towering intellectual, was not only a historian but also a theologian and artist who sought to reclaim Africa’s voice in the telling of its own story. His scholarship challenged colonial narratives and sought to embed African perspectives within historical discourse. Fr. Jean-Luc‘s reflection on Mveng reminds us of the power of history to shape identity, inspire resistance, and call forth new generations of scholars and truth-seekers. In remembering Mveng, we affirm the importance of historiography as an act of justice and liberation.
Memory and history, however, are not confined to the past. They demand engagement with the present. This urgency is captured in the testimony of Ella Mindja, a lawyer and human rights defender who grew up amidst the protracted conflicts of Eastern DRC. In her powerful reflection, “War as a Parent,” she recounts her journey from a childhood shaped by war to a life committed to peace building. Having witnessed the horrors of armed conflict first hand, she now studies Peace and International Relations at Hekima University College, determined not only to understand but to act.
Ella’s testimony was shared as part of a webinar organized by the Center for Research, Training, and Publications (CRTP) at Hekima University College, which sought to unpack the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and call for dialogue, peace, and healing. The discussion was not just about analyzing the conflict but about seeking concrete pathways toward reconciliation. Ella’s questions: How can the DRC break this cycle of violence? How can we translate our academic knowledge into action?, is not rhetorical. They are a challenge to all of us to think critically about the role we play in fostering peace and justice.
In this edition of the newsletter, there is more than a collection of reflections; it is a call to remember, to learn, and to act; history is not merely written, it is lived, and it is up to us to decide how we will shape it.
Denis Munyua
Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa
