Heritage Management in Africa

Heritage management in Africa has been dynamic over the years spanning
back to the pre-colonial era and transcending through the post colonial
era. Colonialism ushered with it scientific management systems which in
most cases worked in antagonism with traditional management systems. Today
many African countries are trying to redefine the concept of heritage
management with much emphasis being placed on including the previously
marginalized societies. In Zimbabwe for example the National Museums and
Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ hereafter) seeks to blend the provisions
of the law in the management of heritage with societal expectations. Heritage
is a product of the society and its management must be bestowed to the
same community to avoid conflicts. A community involved in the management
of heritage can set a hallmark for the sustainable use of heritage. Cutting
down to the Zimbabwean example, the NMMZ once incurred serious
conflicts with the society in the management of Domboshava Rock Art Site
and such conflicts emanated from the complete exclusion of the society in
the management of the site which led to the vandalism of the rock art panels
in form the of graffiti. The site which is located 24km north of Harare, Zimbabwe’s
capital city is a magnificent illustration of Khoisan Rock Art and
protected by the law in terms of its management and use, the clause is enshrined
in the National Museum and Monuments of Zimbabwe Act chapter
27.11. Antagonism arose from the society’s perceptions of heritage ownership
and the feeling of being left out in the management by NMMZ. As a
result the society decided to retaliate by smearing black paint all over the
rock panels. The aftermath of this act saw NMMZ conceiving a comanagement
system with the society as a way of trying to pacify the society.
Society driven projects at the site such as the selling of curios have enhanced
society relations in the management of the site and they now treat it with
reverence. An all stakeholder management plan for the co- management of
the site has since been drawn and has worked successfully over the years.
Other examples of conflicting management systems in Zimbabwe can be
drawn from Ziwa National Monument in Eastern Zimbabwe. Ziwa is an ancient
agricultural terrain with extensive terracing of the landscape and managed
by NMMZ with a sound co-management system with the community.