Taku Iida, Heritage practices in Africa

Following the UNESCO Recommendation on the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972 and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, the concepts of heritage and intangible cultural heritage have garnered global recognition for their pivotal role in promoting heritage preservation, cultural diversity and continuity. With its rich indigenous heritage, Africa has actively engaged in this global movement. However, the implications of heritage policies and discourses in non- Western regions such as Africa raise important questions. How do heritage practices integrate with local traditional ways of life and society? Do they present new challenges of colonisation, or do they offer possibilities of decolonisation through culture safeguarding and community building?