ownership conflicts and heritage interpretation in uganda and tanzania presentation

8/8/2019 Ownership Conflicts and Heritage Interpretation in Uganda and Tanzania Presentation

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OWNERSHIP CONFLICTS AND

HERITAGE INTERPRETATIONIN

UGANDA AND TANZANIA

Karen Moon



CULTURAL HERITAGE - AN IMPORTANT ASSET

FOR DEVELOPMENT:

Some tangible benefits :

– Gives shape to the physical environment (e.g.landmark buildings/skylines in an urban setting)

– Enriches the environment by giving variety anddepth (e.g. monuments, distinctive historic districts,archaeological sites)

– An attractive environment generates income byattracting visitors and investors



Some intangible benefits:

– Tells the story of the nation’s growth

– Creates a feeling of continuity

– Contributes to a sense of identity and national

pride

– Shared heritage creates a sense of belonging

CULTURAL HERITAGE - AN IMPORTANT ASSET

FOR DEVELOPMENT:



Cultural ‘ownership’

Whose heritage: “theirs” or “everyone’s”?

Wanted or unwanted?

A QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP



The varied architectural heritage of a country is anational asset

• Needs to be seen as a jointly-owned resource,in parallel with any more specific ownershipclaims

• A balance should be established betweenindividual, group and national ownership.

HERITAGE INTERPRETATION



• Interpretation can reach the public though bothformal and informal means

• Official site signboards, guidebooks, audio toursand guide training, etc.

• Television and radio programmes, communitymeetings, free leaflets, public lectures andwalking tours, newspaper articles, or theactivities of neighbourhood action groups




KAMPALA, UGANDA

KasubiTombs



1892 map ofMengo area,

Kampala



1937 Opening ceremony of HighCourt building

Asian building inNakasero Market area



Mailo Two



Question of ownership a key problem:

• Whose buildings?

• Whose heritage?

OWNERSHIP



Plot 52 Rashid Khamis Road



Basiima House, Mengo



Asian Indianvernacular

architecture

TraditionalBuganda

architecture

Britishcolonial

architecture

?

Modern Kampala

Asian Indian

1940sArt Deco/Modern

British

ModernMovement



TANZANIA – THE SWAHILI COAST



Omani Fort German Boma



– Chose evidence that redresses the balance (e.g. material thatemphasizes the primarily African origin of the people)

– Give prominence to Kiswahli (the local language)

– Stress continuity (e.g. in building technology – the use of coralstone, lime and mangrove poles – customs traditions, indigenousknowledge of use of natural materials, herbal remedies, etc)

– Point to the evidence of Pre-Islamic occupation of the site andinvolvement in the Indian Ocean trade

INTERPRETIVE CONCEPT



“ We then set sail for Kilwa, the principal town on the coast, most of whose inhabitants are Zanj of very black complexion. Their faces are scarred, like the Limiin at Janada … Kilwa is one of the most beautiful

and well-constructed towns in the world.”

From an account of Kilwa by the Moroccan traveller, Ibn Battuta, 1331



• Balance needed

• Concept of national ownership should beencouraged

• Too much emphasis on ownership byindividual communities may have negative

as well as positive effects


ownership conflicts and heritage interpretation in uganda and tanzania presentation

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