Placemaking of the Barotse Cultural Landscape, Zambia

Abstract

AbstractIn the purview of defining cultural landscapes by the World Heritage Committee, an attempt is made here to appraise and evaluate the effective management of the cultural landscape, illustrated with the Barotse Cultural Landscape (BCL) based on data obtained from the local community, traditional rulers and heritage professionals. The BCL is a floodplain traversed by man-made canals and rich with biodiversity and cultural resources and thus presents a rare example of combined works of nature and of man that have been well-preserved and sustainably utilised through a traditional management system by the Lozi people. The Lozis have occupied the BCL for over 400 years and have had a special and vibrant relationship with their environment, thus resultantly developing a highly centralised and elaborate political and administrative system that has ensured the sustainable management of resources. This has been achieved through councillors (manduna) who have power over the use of land and the natural resources. Since Zambia’s independence in 1964, emphasis has been laid on the conservation of the BCL supported by associated laws and traditional practices. These have reinforced the formation and strengthening of various institutions for the conservation and protection of natural resources and cultural heritage.KeywordsCultural landscape Manduna TraditionalPlacemakingSustainable