The impact of numinosity on the preservation of selected artefacts in the Manhyia Palace Museum, Ghana

Abstract

The Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, Ghana is popular for its outstanding exhibition of authentic cultural artefacts. However, these artefacts have always been associated with the beliefs, spirituality and philosophy of the Ashanti people and they are numinous or sacred objects venerated by both the museum's staff and its visitors. This article explores the phenomenon of numinosity surrounding selected objects in the collections and the impact this has on their preservation. It uses qualitative tools to explore case studies, including their detailed study, and interviews with people knowledgeable about their use and sacred status. A major finding the authors report is that numinous artefacts in the museum were not created as aesthetic objects but primarily for religious and utilitarian purposes that correlate with the devotion of the people involved. Their numinosity was also found to contribute to their preservation by protecting them from handling and use by visitors and museum personnel. The article is offered as a contribution to the literature both to stimulate similar research and widen the interests of those involved in the care of cultural heritage by situating such artefacts in cultural traditions that are arguably left largely outside the field of museology and yet are still to be fully explored in most parts of Africa.