Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Heritage studies have received remarkable interest among cultural heritage professionals in the world. Most of these studies are related to the conservation and protection of cultural heritage resources. Another area of concern has been on local communities’ understanding and engagement in protection of cultural heritage resources. There is a mismatch in the process of cultural inheritance, hence resulting to a state of ‘culture-exclusivity’ leading to cultural deterioration among the community members particularly the youth group. With focus to the Makonde of Tanzania, the study through interviews, ethnographic observation, narratives, and community engagement in site-survey noted the lacuna of ‘heritage culture’ among the local communities especially young generation. It is suggested in this paper that, the problem of poor conservation of cultural heritage in Africa has to a large extent a direct link to the lack of ‘heritage culture’ and inheriting ‘hybridized’ heritages. It is this problem that hinders inclusive efforts for development and sustainable conservation of cultural heritage resources across Africa.