Abstract
Heritage has become a recognized partner in the development agenda of developed countries. Nevertheless, this is not the case in many developing countries in Africa. The concept of heritage and its usage is often multidisciplinary. Because of the subjectivity of heritage, there is no one-size-fits-all theory to adequately explore how to utilize heritage from the social and economic development standpoint. In particular, heritage conservation theories fall short of doing justice to heritage-based developmental initiatives because their scope is limited to stylistic exploration or action-oriented approaches. By developing a conceptual framework based on the integration of Parson’s structural functionalism theory and Porter’s competitive advantage, this study explores the historic environment as an ecosystem wherein different components function to ensure the whole system is functional and efficient. In this sense, a heritage town (system) consists of several factors, stakeholders, and resources necessary to achieve sustainable development while protecting and enhancing the dominant and repressed value chain. This study explored the concept of heritage development in the Badagry area of Lagos State by interviewing residents, business owners, and heritage experts, conducting field observations, and focus group sessions. This study’s relevance pertains to its contributions regarding how heritage and related initiatives are imagined and undertaken. Findings suggest three core areas of consideration in theory building and practical application: redefining and identifying what heritage means beyond established conventions, understanding the need for factoring ignored heritage sectors, and factoring the interconnectedness between heritage value, community participation, capacity building, and heritage planning in achieving sustainable development.
Presenters
Ifeloju OlusanyaPhD Candidate, Architecture, University of Kansas, Kansas, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
HERITAGE, HERITAGE-BASED DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SYSTEMS THEORY, BADAGRY, LAGOS STATE
