Writing Independence in Southern Political Memoirs: Conflict of Discourses and Narratives

Abstract

This research explores the theme of writing independence in political memoirs authored by southern Yemeni politicians involved in the events leading to the region’s independence from British rule in 1967. Despite their differing political affiliations, these memoirs reveal two conflicting narratives shaped by their distinct interpretations of specific events: one aligned with the National Front and the other with the Liberation Front. Employing a sociological approach, the study navigates the intersection of literature and history, focusing on the unique nature of the material under examination. Spanning nearly half a century, from Abdulqawi Makkawi’s 1979 memoirs to Major General Haidar bin Saleh Al-Habili’s 2024 memoirs, the research investigates this long and complex journey of writing, marked by periods of wandering, absence, and censorship. Divided into an introduction and two sections, each dedicated to one of the conflicting narratives, the study highlights how the 1967 independence of South Yemen, following 129 years of British occupation, remains a contentious topic in the collective national memory. Many events and details of this period remain hidden or unspoken, surfacing only within the limited scope of memoir literature.