How the Past Shapes our Identity

Who were the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings? You may think you know the answer, you may not, or you may doubt the question is worth asking. In this talk, we will explore how asking these questions can raise surprisingly complex societal issues. We will consider how we as individuals and societies choose to remember the past, and how this impacts the way we perceive both the present and future. The aim is to demonstrate how asking the simple question of "Who were the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings?" requires us in turn to contend with the broader social issues of identity and citizenship.

The land restitution crisis in South Africa is centred on a clash of cultural and legal values. These values are in direct opposition: one of resource management and the other of values of right and wrong. This talk will discuss the cultural stalemate which has impacted on so many post-colonial societies.