See the Unseen Archives of Idi Amin at the National Museum
Revealing Never before seen Photographs of Idi Amin-A Must Do & See in Kampala
The Unseen Archives of Idi Amin-Never before seen Photographs of Idi Amin at the National Museum in Kampala. The unseen archives of Idi Amin were discovered by researchers in 2015 in an old, locked filing Cabinet at the Uganda Broadcasting. Once it was pried open, they found 70,000 negatives. Most of them being of and about Idi Amin.
In 2018 the Uganda Broadcasting Company, with support, funding, and technical support, began the process of digitizing the photos. Over 25,000 images have been digitized. Two-Hundred were selected for the present Exhibition at the National Museum.
The exhibition was and is curated by Nelson Abiti (ethnographer, Uganda Museum), Dr. Derek R. Peterson (professor of history and African studies, University of Michigan, US), Edgar C. Taylor and associate professor Richard Vokes, of the University of Western Australia.
Since the exhibition opened, it has been covered both nationally and internationally. Mostly raves and positive press coverage have been pouring in from around the World.
The Unseen Archives of Idi Amin-Never before seen Photographs of Idi Amin: Idi Amin is at the center stage of the exhibition. Most of the present 40-Million Ugandans were not alive during his reign of terror in the 1970s, where over 300,00 Ugandans were murdered. Most Ugandans today have anti-Amin sentiments though there are quite a few who were and are fond of him.
There are even some that yearn for in their minds better times of Idi Amin. Yearnings, that ignore the harshness and brutality of his rule of over eight years. Idi Amin became the President of Uganda by force, and he was chased out of the country and presidency by force.
Internationally, Idi Amin, though he died in Jeddah, Saudi Arabi in 2003 while in exile, he remains the most famous Ugandan. Some even think that Idi Amin is in Uganda. Yet some believe that he still rules Uganda. Not knowing that president Yoweri Museveni has been the President of Uganda since 1986.
The Unseen Archives of Idi Amin-Never before seen Photographs of Idi Amin will help remove some of the lingering ghosts of Idi Amin. Younger Ugandans can see a portion of the history of their country that they know little about.
The images Idi Amin are contrasted with pictures of his victims, creating a more realistic view of life and time as President of Uganda. The photos provide an inside look at how Ugandans experienced the Idi Amin years.
The photographs are unaltered and unedited. Where possible, the curators have titled the pictures using the same titles assigned by the people who took them, filed, and stored them.
Tourists and visitors from around the world can see Idi Amin as he was and not as projected in the fictional “the Last King of Scotland.” Tourists and visitors should combine the Idi Amin exhibition with a visit to the nearby Torture Chambers, which will give them a look at the dastardly deeds of Idi Amin. Pictures of the torture chambers are also part of the exhibition.
The Unseen Archives of Idi Amin-Never before seen Photographs of Idi Amin: Why would the present Ugandan Government led by President Yoweri Museveni allow the pictures of Idi Amin to be shown ate an exhibition at the National Museum of Uganda? Because Idi Amin is part of the history of the nation of Uganda. Though many Ugandans have tried to forget their turbulent and grim past, the exhibition is a reminder Idi Amin, however one feels about him is strongly tied to the country’s history.
“The Unseen Archive of Idi Amin” exhibit at the Uganda Museum in Kampala is one of the first efforts by a public institution to tackle the dictator’s complicated legacy and memorialize his victims of the era.
Some Ugandans whose families were torn apart by Amin’s policies welcome the chance for the world to learn more about those years.
Not to be missed -The Unseen Archives of Idi Amin-Never before seen Photographs of Idi Amin. Keep the exhibit going.
