The power of stories from within: The Dingleton Community relocation

Abstract

In a context of change and transition a degree of uncertainty and anxiety can be expected, and perhaps even the need to reflect on the forces affecting change. Such reflection may happen through a narrative evaluation of people’s lived realities as it relates to the forces affecting such changes. This process may create an opportunity to recall, review and re-author dominant narratives in order to deal with change. The article, drawing on the stories of some people affected by the relocation of the Dingleton community in the Northern Cape, highlights the fact that the power of narratives of ordinary people has the potential to influence their response to forces of change. This is not an attempt to present detailed stories or a technical discussion on the notion of power, but rather aims to highlight only those aspects of selected narratives that demonstrate the power people’s own stories may have.