SCHOOL ALBUM DAY

 

Adeladius Makwega-

President’s Office, Records and Archives Department – Dodoma, Tanzania.

 

“You know, preserving records is not a difficult task; it only requires the willingness of the individual or institution concerned. Let me tell you something: I attended Mwenge Secondary School. For a long time, the school has had a culture of properly preserving its records and history.”

 

He went on to say:

 

“There is a special day known as School Album Day. Students are allowed to look through the school’s albums, going all the way back to the time the school was established. The albums contain photographs of teachers, students and various leaders who visited the school. I remember seeing photographs of former teachers wearing shorts and socks.”

 

The narrator continued to captivate Mwanakwetu’s attention, almost like listening to a Bongo Flava song:

 

“I am telling you, if someone attended Mwenge Secondary School, their photograph must be in the school album. This becomes especially valuable if that person later becomes a prominent leader, because there is a record of their journey—from the photograph taken when they first entered the school, through various school events, to the day they graduated.”

 

These are the words of Mwalimu Lukas Masunzu, a Tanzanian author, a holder of a Master’s degree in Education, and Senior Education Officer at Urambo Secondary School in Tabora.

 

Mwalimu Masunzu shared these views with Mwanakwetu by telephone in early August 2026.

 

“Let me ask you: who today would not want to see records of their childhood—how they looked when they were young and how they were when they were attending school? The records we have are mostly those kept in official files. But where is the rest of their life outside the formal systems? The answer is that those memories have not been preserved.”

 

Mwalimu Masunzu had completely captured Mwanakwetu’s attention, as though he were under the protection of Roman soldiers during the wars of Octavian and Cleopatra.

 

“Why should this be the case when most of us have lived, stayed and studied in different places? Tanzanians do not have a strong culture of preserving records and memories. I therefore believe that, starting today, it is the responsibility of you, me and everyone else to learn from the example of Mwenge Secondary School.”

Mwalimu Masunzu concluded his conversation with Mwanakwetu by driving home the importance of preserving institutional photographs and records.

 

“An institution that has photographs and records can demonstrate its journey and achievements over many years—its past, its present and even its future. Well-organized photographs show that an institution is active and trustworthy.

When visitors and stakeholders come and see a history of positive events and achievements, they develop confidence in that institution. They realize that the institution did not begin today; it has a history and has been serious about its work.”

 

After concluding the conversation with Mwalimu Masunzu, Mwanakwetu decided to prepare this article in order to continue educating society about the importance of preserving records and memories.

 

What does Mwanakwetu have to say today?

The heritage contained in photographs and audio recordings from various events around the world is at risk. This situation is caused by several factors, including poor preservation practices, technological developments and deliberate destruction.

 

This has prompted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to designate a special day to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving audiovisual heritage.

 

Accordingly, UNESCO recognizes 27 October as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, a day dedicated to reminding individuals, institutions and communities of the importance of preserving audiovisual records for present and future generations.

Records and memories are not merely remnants of yesterday; they are a bridge connecting yesterday, today and tomorrow. Photographs, audio recordings, documents and records of important events form part of the identity of individuals, institutions and nations. When we preserve them properly, we give future generations an opportunity to understand their history through authentic evidence. But when we neglect them, we risk losing an important part of history that may never be recovered.

 

Consider the story shared by Lukas Masunzu about Mwenge Secondary School:

“Those teachers used to wear shorts and socks.”

Today, such a style of dress may appear unusual, and under current public-service regulations, it could be considered inappropriate. Yet society can learn from those old photographs that something which was acceptable in the past may not be acceptable today.

 

That is the power of a photograph: it preserves evidence of how people lived, dressed and conducted themselves at a particular moment in history.

 

The time to act is now. Individuals, families, schools, institutions and the nation as a whole must recognize that preserving records is a responsibility, not a luxury. We should not wait until history disappears before we begin searching for it. Let us start today by preserving photographs, audio recordings, documents and important events, because what we preserve today is what will speak about us tomorrow.

 

History can be told through words, but well-preserved records give history both a voice and a face.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:

“SCHOOL ALBUM DAY.”

 

Wishing you a meaningful School Album Day.

Email: makwadeladius@gmail.com

Phone: 0717649257

Acknowledgement:
Special thanks to Education Officer Lukas Masunzu of Urambo Secondary School, Tabora, Tanzania, for sharing his valuable insights on the importance of preserving institutional records and memories.