Reclaiming Heritage: Alternative Imaginaries of Memory in West AfricaFerdinand de Jong, Michael Rowlands Struggles over the meaning of the past are common in postcolonial states. State cultural heritage programs build monuments to reinforce in nation building efforts—often supported by international organizations and tourist dollars. These efforts often ignore the other, often more troubling memories preserved by local communities—markers of colonial oppression, cultural genocide, and ethnic identity. Yet, as the contributors to this volume note, questions of memory, heritage, identity and conservation are interwoven at the local, ethnic, national and global level and cannot be easily disentangled. In a fascinating series of cases from West Africa, anthropologists, archaeologists and art historians show how memory and heritage play out in a variety of postcolonial contexts. Settings range from televised ritual performances in Mali to monument conservation in Djenne and slavery memorials in Ghana. |
Other editions - View all
RECLAIMING HERITAGE: ALTERNATIVE IMAGINARIES OF MEMORY IN WEST AFRICA Ferdinand de Jong Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
African ancient architecture archive argues associated attempts audience authentic Baga become building claim collective colonial concept conservation contemporary context create critical cultural heritage Derrida discourse Djenné effects established European example fact Fanon festival Figure forces French future groups grove human identity important initiation institutions interest Islam issues jeli Kankurang living London Mali masked masquerade material means memory monuments Museum objects official origins Osogbo Osun particular past performance photograph political position postcolonial practices present preservation produced programme promote recent recognition reference regime regional relation representation represented restoration result ritual sense Sierra Leone slave trade social society Studies technologies tourism town tradition transformation tree turn UNESCO University Press various village West Western World Heritage Yoruba