The Politics of Heritage Management in Mali: From UNESCO to Djenné Contributor(s): Joy, Charlotte L. (Author) |
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ISBN: 161132095X ISBN-13: 9781611320954 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $52.20 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: August 2013 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - History | Africa - West - Architecture | Historic Preservation - General - Social Science | Archaeology |
Dewey: 363.690 |
Series: Critical Cultural Heritage (Numbered) |
Physical Information: 0.7" H x 5.9" W x 8.9" (0.85 lbs) 235 pages |
Themes: - Cultural Region - West Africa |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djenn , in modern day Mali, is exalted as an enduring wonder of the ancient African world by archaeologists, anthropologists, state officials, architects and travel writers. In this revealing study, the author critically examines how the politics of heritage management, conservation, and authenticity play essential roles in the construction of Djenn 's past and its appropriation for contemporary purposes. Despite its great renown, the majority of local residents remain desperately poor. And while most are proud of their cultural heritage, they are often troubled by the limitations it places on their day to day living conditions. Joy argues for a more critical understanding of this paradox and urges us all to reconsider the moral and philosophical questions surrounding the ways in which we use the past in the present. |