Preserving the cultural heritage of Africa: crisis or renaissance?

Abstract

The outflow of archaeological or artistic work from Africa, together with the ways of exhibiting African treasures outside Africa, are emerging as serious issues both in political and ethical terms. They are typified by a series of hot disputes concerning the legality of the exhibition of Nok terracotta pieces from Nigeria in the Louvre. Meanwhile in Africa, there has been an upsurge of active efforts by many ethnic groups - in Mali, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa and elsewhere - to create or re-create their own cultures by reviewing their cultural legacy. The book discusses the question: 'How should Africa's cultural heritage be preserved?' Scholars and museum professionals from Africa, Europe, America and Japan clarify the significance of 'Cultural Heritage' for African people in postcolonial Africa. They also explore how scholars and museum professionals outside Africa can support African colleagues in handing down their cultural legacy to future generations. Kenji Yoshida is Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan; John Mack, formerly Keeper of Ethnography at the British Museum, is Professor of World Art at the University of East Anglia. The contributors include: John Mack, Kenji Yoshida, Rumi Umino, Godfrey Mahachi, Tereba Togola, George S. Mudenda, Jasper Morgan Chalcraft, Noriko Aikawa-Faure, Anitra Nettleton, Moyo Okediji, Yukiya Kawaguchi, Tetsuya Kamei, Mary Nooter Roberts, Shoichiro Takezawa, and Kiprop Lagat.