Defining Resources | Eszter Jakab

 In order to carry out a decent research it is crucial to use the proper resources. In fact, one of the first steps of even writing a research proposal is to delineate the resources one aims to work with. The researcher should take into consideration whether they are relevant, reliable, and accessible.

In my proposed project I intend to examine the possibility of nominating the four most sacred sites of Buddhism (i. e. Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar) as serial transnational properties on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Nominating a site is already quite a complex issue in itself and requires huge amount of data, but in the case of serial properties, the case is even more complicated. What primary sources shall I use in my research then?

The first goal of my research is to define those historical-cultural factors that enables us to connect the four sites in question. Therefore, the first group of resources should consist of all the accessible texts and probably also artistic works which could provide any information on this background. I will definitely include Buddhist literary works e. g. the Pali Canon, and Sanskrit Mahayana Buddhist treatises. At this point the question arises whether I should use own translations or use the already existing ones. First of all, in my opinion, I probably do not have that good command of Sanskrit which would capacitate me to translate the texts fully. Secondly, if I would, then my work would turn into a purely philological study. Another type of texts are the inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka in Prakrit, Greek, and Aramaic language, where again full translations are accessible. Details of the sites are also provided by the translated Chinese travelogues of the 4^th and 6^th century. The last important type of primary sources are the 19^th­ ­̶ 20^th century reports issued by the Archaeological Survey of India which shed light on the excavation work carried out at the sites.

In the second place, since my aim is to nominate it as a UNESCO site, it is essential to look through the information provided by the organization on the topic. On the one hand, the Operational Guidelines provide all the regulations which are essential for developing its dossier. It also enables me to put the data regarding its protection status into a comparative framework therefore to recognize the deficiencies. On the other hand, the documentation of sites already accepted may help me to better understand the eligibility criteria. In addition it can provide strategies and practices that have already proven to be good.

In the third place, I intend to gather information on the legal aspects regarding the sites. This group should contain the different legislations, provisions, and reports of the authorities which copes with them, namely the ones by the already mentioned Archaeological Survey of India, the Ministry of Tourism in India, and the Tourism and Civil Aviation in Nepal. The documentation of the Maha Bodhi Society should not be left out as well. This again may be compared to the aforementioned guidelines and existing examples.

These are those research resource groups which I have already identified. Besides these, I constantly develop new ideas. For instance, another resource group could consist of interviews and questionnaires filled out by the different stakeholder groups, e. g. the Buddhist community, the decision makers in the governmental and private sector, and also the local residents. However, having recognised that the resource groups are so manifold, I have raised doubts whether it is possible to process this amount of data efficiently. Perhaps I should consider narrowing down my scope to fewer aspects, but I hope to get to a conclusion soon in this matter.

In the next post I am going to discuss the problem of transliteration in a thesis where Indology as a field of study is also involved.

Nadin Helmi I 24 hours in old cities

September 13, 2018

CEU Residence center

5:30 PM

My head is spinning ?? Why?

Let's get back 24 hours earlier.  

I was in Cairo, trying to finish packing my bag so fast, so I can go to Alexandria to say goodbye to my sweet precious daughter SOPHIA.

I live in a very interesting neighborhood in Cairo called "Heliopolis" the area had been established on 1905 by a really wealthy Belgian industrialist called Baron Empain where he built his magnificent palace. The area is known for its unique architectural style " Heliopolis style" where you can see Neo-Islamic Style combined with Baroque style architectural. Heliopolis was the home of upper-class Egyptians and foreigners who lived in Egypt, although the area had changed a lot, yet you still can enjoy a wonderful walk there as you will see a beautiful building in each corner.

Catholic Basilica church in Heliopolis from my Instagram account 

Before hitting the road, and leave my sweet cozy apartment and say goodbye to the city I stopped in front of The Catholic Basilica church and sometimes we call it the Basilica of the Virgin Mary where you can enjoy the epic sound of the restored pipe organ, the original pipe was brought especially from Belgium in 1914 however it had been neglected for a long time until a famous Belgian organ builder (Gerard Pels) decided to restore the original pipe in 2002 so we get to be part of an amazing musical journey inside and outside its doors.

After 3 hours' drive, I can see the tip of Pompey's Pillar that’s mean I am home, the pillars are a Roman triumphal column located at the Serapeum of Alexandria, Karmouz district, they named it after the Roman general Pompey who had been murdered by Queen Cleopatra's brother. beneath the pillar you can find the stairs which leads you to the ruins of the great temple of Serapis and outside its gates the local market.

After my trip to Alexandria I went directly to the airport to start my adventure in Budapest.

I was happy when  arrived to Budapest, I can finally concentrate on this beautiful city. After a short process of searching and finding a companion to show me around, I asked my nice and dear friend Serkan 1^st year student at medieval studies to show me a part of the city since I missed the orientation week and I missed all the interesting tours.

He planned our short but concise discovery of the city’s Pest section, which contains quite “Müemlek”s (historical monument) to finish in one day. Thus, we draw a route that begins from St. Stephen’s Basilica, continues through to Liberty Bridge and follows to Danube coast until the Parliament Building, which was a quite fascinating monument especially during the night time thanks to birds flying over the roof!

After a fulfilling meal near to Deak Ferenc, we went to St. Stephen’s Basilica. The basilica was completed in 1905 and dedicated to King Stephen, the first king of Hungary (975-1038). I have already known that the square and the basilica itself is a prominent center for tourists and tours, but did not expect to see at least five different tourist groups from literally all continents! After entering the basilica, I have started to compare there with St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria unintentionally.

After surviving from a huge tourist raids, we moved toward the Synagogue that was the biggest in Europe and probably the most impressive. Next station was the Hungarian National Museum. This neoclassical building was built between 1837 and 1847 by the architect Mihaly Pollack. From prehistoric ages to end of the communist era, there are lots of themes and periods are exhibited in the museum. Unfortunately, we could not visit the museum since it was already closed, however, I added it on my “must” list! Then finally we arrived to beautifully illuminated Liberty Bridge. I was quite shocked after hearing that the bridge was the shortest one in Budapest. However, I was super excited with it and took the photo immediately to send Nouran, my friend from Cairo!

Liberty Bridge

By the way this is how I met with the wind of Budapest that blows from the Danube… Along the coast, we have seen lots of classical buildings like Corvinus University and Hungarian Science of Academy. Both Corvinus University and Hungarian Science of Academy with Eötvös Lorand University were and still the pioneers of the Hungarian academy.

Until that day, I had no idea about Hungarian cuisine and it was also time to start discovering it. Luckily, we managed to find a place that cooks Goulash. Goulash, as one of the main dishes of Hungarian cuisine, was a bit intense for me but I feel like it will be one of the best companions here.

Furthermore, the variety of international restaurants in Budapest, mainly Turkish and Italian ones, is also something that attracted my attention. After having our soups, we hit the road again and reached our ultimate destination, which was the Parliament Building! Comparing with the political and social contexts of Egypt, the fact that they allow tourists to visit the parliament building from that close distance seems also different to me. So, after a short walk in the backyard of the parliament, we have returned to our dorm with metro!

Dinara Satbayeva | Brinning Optimism and Activism into research on Soviet Socialist Modernist Architecture in Kazakhstan

This first blog about the thesis that is only evolving in my head could be the hardest thing to write. However, I will. I suggest you fasten your seat-belts, dear colleagues and I will fasten mine, because this will be a serpentine road and even I do not know what to expect. After all, academy is a journey of its own kind.

Motivations

Street advertisements, Karaganda, Kazakhstan

So I feel it to be important to start from the moment I was choosing a topic for my research, with only one thing in mind – my thesis must be about something that I will feel a personal connection to. With a ten-years background in fine arts, I felt that I had some kind of initial direction. My Bachelors degree in the Political Science and International Relations also gave me some motivation to explore the realm of cultural heritage in Kazakhstan. It was also the moment, when the urban landscape of the places dear to my heart was swiftly changing. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, urban planning was troubled in many places around the country. It is still troubled today. One of the consequences is that the soviet period architecture, which sculptures the outlook of many cities is in a decay. Instead, the cities are clogged with poorly designed malls, irritating advertisement banners and ridiculous statues. 

   

Palace of Lenin, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Soviet Socialist Modernist Architecture 

With my own aesthetic preferences at heart I've chosen Soviet Socialist Modernist architecture as a focus of my research. This architectural style belongs to the period of 1955-1991 and is often associated with the style of Brutalism. Another reason for focusing on this group of architectural heritage sites was its evident underrepresentation in the scholarly research. One of the illustrative examples of this style was the current Palace of the Republic (former Palace of Lenin) in Almaty - a former capital of Kazakhstan. The palace that was a centerpiece of soviet modernism, today is almost nonexistent, or at least nonexistent in its architectural value.

Attempting at filling this gap, I'm particularly grateful for an opportunity to do this at Central European University in Budapest - a place with its own post-soviet context that could provide me with necessary critical environment and experience in the research and management in similar fields.

Structuring investigation

So first, I've started to explore how legal frameworks and (lack of) social activism in Kazakhstan lead to many tangible objects of the Soviet period being damaged, deprived of their value (in the process of restoration) and being completely destroyed by the public authorities themselves or with authorities' passive consent. What was expected, yet sad to find was the lack of documentation and open access data for the soviet heritage of Kazakhstan. From a preliminary analysis, I drew a hypothesis that official authorities are inclined towards a nation-building process, which strives to retrieve what has been “underestimated” during the Soviet times. Hence, it frequently prioritizes pre-Soviet and pre-colonial Kazakh culture over the Soviet one.

Indeed, I find it problematic that there is little chance for a fluid and complex interpretation of Kazakhstani historical past and national identity. This is a particularly sensitive issue within the context of multiethnic population, comprising more than 120 nationalities and ethnic groups within one state. As a result, one of most aesthetically valuable groups of endangered objects is Soviet Modernist architecture that is usually associated with a totalitarian past, and not with something that can be “Kazakh”.

Opposite to this interpretation, In my research I would argue that Soviet Modernism is a unique eclectic blend between originally western style, ambitious artistic and social agenda of Soviet architects with an authentically local touch. It has an enormous value and could serve as a tourist attraction and thus a field of economic advantage and business development, like in the case of contemporary Moscow and other post-soviet destinations.

Urban Activism

While planning on how to approach my thesis, I believe that despite a seemingly little activism, there are certain groups that are formed on the cause of architectural sites protection. Currently, there are grass-rout communities and expertise groups, such as  Арх Надзор and UrbanForum - Almaty, which act to attract public attention and preserve heritage sites. However, these are centered in a couple of regions only and do not have a centralized platform for dialog and decision-making.  

What is more, there is little capacity for this groups to engage in dialog with the public authorities. Decisions to be taken about a certain site are rarely announced publicly and by the time people gather to object, it is too late. The whacking ball is set in motion.

What to do next? 

Some initial practical steps to further my research would be: 

1. Establishing a connection with the existing Kazakhstani organizations to acquire their perspective on the issue. 
2. Providing a close up analysis of the existing laws on the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Urban Planning.
3. Establishing a set of similar case studies and participatory management projects on cultural heritage in other post-soviet states and the world. 
4. Looking at how soviet heritage issues are addressed in Hungary, as another comparative case study. 
5. Exploring the work of the Bureau for Art and Urban Research (BACU), which is aiming at preserving the Eastern bloc architecture of Europe.

As I proceed with my research, I need to find the right angle. By this I mean that I should explore what kind of participatory management schemes can be applied to empower grass-root organization to take a part in the urban planning and cultural heritage preservation in the cities of Kazakhstan. I believe that involvement of public would be a good way of accounting for a complex narrative of heritage in Kazakhstan. After all it is not only a question of preservation of a particular group of objects, but also the intangible, aesthetic, historical value, artistic idea and effort behind it. This problem crosses the borders of Kazakhstan and has its own angle in other Post-Soviet and newly independent states. However, it is important to bear in mind that this may only be possible after addressing legal boundaries that discourage activism in the first place.

Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Next post would hopefully bring some results of this quest. Now, I can only hope for my persistent optimism and activism that I can encourage in myself and others.

 

Links: 

• Architectural conference - Modernist frontiers: then and now. : https://garagemca.org/en/event/architectural-conference-modernist-frontiers-then-and-now
• Bureau for Art and Urban Research (BACU): http://bacu.ro/
• Socialist Modernism photography series by BACU aims to help preserve Eastern Bloc architecture. Accessed September 23, 2018: https://www.dezeen.com/2016/08/18/socialist-modernism-photography-bacu-preserve-eastern-bloc-architecture/
• Urban Forum – Almaty. Accessed January 15, 2018: https://urbanforum.kz/en/main_index-2/
• “Постановление Правительства Республики Казахстан от 21 марта 2008 года № 279 Об утверждении Государственного списка памятников истории и культуры республиканского значения”. 2008. Madenimura.kz. Accessed January 21, 2018: http://www.madenimura.kz/en/government-program-madenimura/legal-actsmadenimura/legal-act-279/?query=%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9&dpk=2587
• On Culture: The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 15 December 2006 No. 207. Unofficial translation. Accessed January 20, 2018: https://tengrinews.kz/zakon/parlament_respubliki_kazahstan/kultupa/id-Z060000207_/

I want to create something applicable, will I?

That’s what usually happens when it comes to thesis proposal. You have so many ideas in your mind, you want to save the world, contribute, do something useful. I am passionate and worried about the preservation of cultural heritage in my motherland Kyrgyzstan, and there are just so MANY gaps that need attention and development, I cannot help myself but just want to work with all of them. Fine arts, architecture, handicrafts, folklore, and many others. Anyway, when I applied for Cultural Heritage Studies program of CEU, I decided to concentrate on Preserving Kyrgyz Traditional Felt Carpet Production through Women Entrepreneurship. 

Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak, art of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpets, which was included to the List of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in

2012, is in danger of disappearing. The number of practitioners is decreasing. There is a lack of governmental safeguarding, alongside with the disinterest of the younger generation. The average age of artisans is over 40[i]. Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak are difficult to produce, that is why their price is high. Usually tourists buy little carpets. There are different international organizations which work in developing of Kyrgyz tourism through helping people to organize small enterprises (like USAID BGI project, for example), but they act separately, and their initiatives and results usually are not sustainable after projects’ closure. Kyrgyz felt carpets production always was what women do. Today, there are some local businesses which promote this art on international level, like Nakta.kg shop, for example. But it is hard to say whether they use the ancient Kyrgyz technologies of carpet production, or they use adapted versions. The techniques Kyrgyz women used in Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak creation are a crucial component of cultural heritage, and we need to be able to pass knowledge to young generations of artisans. This naturally will develop women entrepreneurship. Today, there are artisans who feed their families all by themselves. It is well-known that women entrepreneurship is an important source of economic growth[ii]; that is why many factors will benefit from the conservation of Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak production.  

So I thought that I will prepare a business plan for women non-governmental organizations which then can apply it. But afterwards I understood that there are many involvements in Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak preservation, I now I doubt, whether my thesis work would be as important as I think it is. I will use reports of international development organizations which implemented projects in Kyrgyzstan (USAID BGI and others), I will most likely do questionnaires, I think I will need to travel to regions of Kyrgyzstan to understand what female artisans think and need. I will also work with cooperation with University of Central Asia, who published several books about Kyrgyz cultural heritage. I hope to figure out my final thoughts by the end of 2018.  

---

[i] https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/ala-kiyiz-and-shyrdak-art-of-kyrgyz-traditional-felt-carpets-00693

[ii]  http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/8228/Abstract.pdf?sequence=1

Finding my feet in a deep pool of inconsistent thoughts | Daniel Anyim.

Are you psychologically braced to pursue a master’s program? Do you have a properly defined area/problem you aim at researching into? What impact, in the long run, do you seek to achieve with your MA; to solve a problem or draw attention to an existing situation? Is your craving for an MA well thought through or you only want to purse one because it’s become fashionable overtime?

Such a perfect cocktail of confused thoughts served on a shiny tray by the affable joker to me at a grand ball I was not invited to from the onset. More so, a pictorial representation of what my mind’s eye has to show for all interested in knowing the ‘civil war’ my psyche had to endure before an eventual treaty was reached to tender my application in on 1^st February 2018.

The constant battle with ideas, self-doubt, and preparedness were daunting albeit an inextensible quest to pursue knowledge and prospectively add to it.

My conviction to pursue the Culture Heritage Studies program stemmed from a peculiar social conundrum I observed in a coastal town called Axim in the Western Region of Ghana when I last visited in September 2017. This town houses Fort St. Anthony, the second largest fort built in the then Gold Coast, present-day Ghana by the Portuguese in 1515. The primary purpose for building this fort was to serve as stead within which the control of gold trade takes place. As the years went by, the fort became subject to different ownership, thus, the Portuguese handed it over to the Dutch in 1642, the Dutch did same by handing over to the British in 1872 and finally come under Ghanaian custody after achieving political independence in 1957. During these periods of the different succession of Fort St Anthony, its original purpose for which it was constructed (i.e. the stead for the trade of gold with the locals) transformed, thus, used as a fortification against the locals and for the predominant trade of slaves during the dark years of colonization.

Until present-day, there is a split in opinion amongst the people who live within the town towards this historic monument. A faction is indifferent about its relevance and superstitiously believes that it is a haunted edifice hence it should be left to rot away. Whereas other varying opinions have it that, regardless of the treacherous activities the fort was used for in the past, its historical value should be appreciated and tapped into for the good of the township. Retrospectively, I found this impasse very thought-provoking and felt pursuing an academic research braced with recommendations on the need for exclusive local involvement in the management of this monument will be worth my while. The draft of my proposal was centered around the stated situation and I repeatedly thought to myself ‘this is what you’re fated for, make it happen!’.

Fast-forward, the puzzle is increasingly taking a different turn after hopping onto the 'CEU ferry'. Budapest welcomed me with open arms adorned with the absolute beauty she has on offer, so did the ever-calm Danube river promise me the smoothest sail ever. How sweet and generous. 

True to its words, the sail got off to a solemn start as we breezed through the zero weeks purposefully initiated to welcome first-year students like myself into the school, the program, our immediate community and the city at large. Our academic field trip to some historic sites and monuments in West Hungary capped with a visit to the Hungarian National Museum was littered with a surreal ‘holiday feel’ notwithstanding the educative purposes for which it was organized.

 It was during this period that I felt an urge to augment my focus and alter the original plan I got into the program with. This was mainly influenced by personal inferences garnered from how the sites and monuments we visited were preserved and most importantly presented to the amazement of almost every student on the program. Where then is my next confused step going to lead me to? A redirection of my thesis topic to an equally pertinent situation which is fast gaining roots amongst the Ghanaian populace especially the youth. Thus, a fast decline in public interest and patronage of heritage sites and monuments mainly due to lack of appropriate management, promotion, and presentation to suit the technological demands of the current generation. The core of what I am seeking to delve into is to explore how virtual outlets particularly social media can be adopted and used in contextualizing and presenting cultural heritage as well as digitally encoding their stories for the consumption of the general populace. This is aimed at reigniting nostalgia amongst individuals who have visited any of the sites in the past, promoting tourism, and most importantly revamp a sense of national pride amongst the youth.

In hindsight, my thought formulation process on what an ideal roadmap for this newly found spark should be is undefined. I don’t have a clear idea as to how proceedings are going to pan out but trust me, I will find a way.

Until then, the waters are murky at present, my sight is blurred but the game is within reach. I’m up for it!.

REFERENCE:

Thierry Secretan, Castles & Forts of Ghana publication 1999, with permission from Ghana Museums & Monuments Board

http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/regions/highlight_detail.asp?rdid=127#

Giant in front of me | Adina Selimovic

New country. New university. New classmates from all over the world. It all sounds so exciting, right? In fact yes it is. But I won't lie last few weeks have been as exciting as they have been scary. One think I wasn't expecting is how much I am going to discuss  thesis proposals with my new classmates. The much feared question „What is your thesis topic? “ comes up as soon as you introduce yourself. In answering this question seems like everyone is following the same pattern: he/she chuckles, takes a deep breath and tells you „Well...I need to think about it, I believe it won't be the same as one in my proposal topic, that one is very broad for one thesis “. 

This uncertainty of my classmates gives me comfort, it helps to know I am not the only one who feels like this is too much for me. My research is going to be about Jewish heritage in Sarajevo. But I cannot simply put 500 years of traditions and creations on twenty-something pages. As of right now, I feel like the dwarf in front of the huge giant. Should I become David and fight this huge giant? But how to approach it? What are my strategies? I do not know. There is simply a lot to consider and I always felt like I must stay true to my ideas from begging.  

https://www.worldprayer.org.uk/world-prayer-centre-news/item/9606-david-goliath-where-is-the-real-battle

One thing I knew for sure is that I do not wish to write about the famous ‘Sarajevo Haggadah’. I use to think my research should be about less known aspects, preferably about the intangible heritage of Sarajevo’s Jews. But, during the first meeting with professors from Jewish studies specialization, I had one very interesting realization that made me rethink my thesis topic once again.  

“You can write about Haggadah,” Said professor to me, “That is a fascinating story, I heard that everyone in Sarajevo knows about it” he added excitedly. ‘Yes exactly, everyone knows it’ I thought. I looked around myself and realized something 'We are not in Kansas anymore Dorothy'. Very conveniently the meeting was taking place on one of the rooftops of CEU campus buildings, so I could look around realizing that indeed I am not home anymore, I am not in Sarajevo. Does really EVERYONE know about Haggadah? Probably not.  I realized I was wrong to be so dismissive of this idea from the start.  

After this, it new questions started to raise: But what can I really contribute to this narrative? Can I write something that wasn’t written yet? Soon, just like ordered another conversation takes place, this time in a much relaxing setting, on Friday night over few drinks. One PhD student from YURG (Yugo research group) listened so patiently all my troubles related to the thesis topic. “I had the same fear, but my mentor told me that what was done in the past shouldn’t be an obstacle, it can just assist you in writing more thorough research. It doesn’t always mean that you are recycling other person's ideas and work” (Or something like that, I am not sure I remember it all word to word, it was Friday after all. Maybe I just wanted to hear this)  

http://www.ongsend.com/2011/02/26/no-181-robert-burton/

 As I write this I remember the interesting metaphor professor used during our first lecture on “Problems and Paradigms in Jewish studies”. He talked about how people in Middle ages felt about Antic: They saw philosophers from Ancient Greece as gigantic authorities that they will never be able to reach, all they can do is try climbing on their shoulders and maybe see little further away. Suddenly, the big giant in front of me is not scary Goliath I need to defeat, I can maybe just try climbing on his shoulders. Maybe from there, I will have a better view. Right now, I am not sure how to even climb up there, but I am certain that in next two years I will get proper robes to climb up this giant.

Economic development or Heritage for posterity?

Zimbabwe is a developing country in the southern part of Africa which is popularly known for its cultural heritage masterpiece ‘Great Zimbabwe’ world heritage site. The name Zimbabwe is a native language word for a big ‘House of Stone’, this also implies the richness the nation is, in terms of heritage. This then clarifies how important heritage should be to the citizens of the country because Zimbabwe is the sense of everyone’s identity and nationality. To some, Great Zimbabwe is a focal rallying point whilst to others it is a national shrine for religious rituals therefore. Heritage, as opined by Lowenthal, is important to all humans who in turn should husband, transmit and protect it. 

Great Zimbabwe 

Conversely, the nation is economically facing a recession and as a result, developmental initiations contravene heritage management policies. Controversial situations are always rising due to the lack of clear guidelines on pre-requisites for developmental projects at a national level. This has subsequently led to the loss of archaeological heritage and disturbances on intangible heritage. An example of a sacred hill called Sviba within the buffer zones of Great Zimbabwe would best suit the context with which I am concerned about. A telecommunications booster was erected in this sacred hill of Sviba without having done archaeological impact assessments prior such a development and hence burials were disturbed during the process. The responsible authorities were only informed of such a development because burial remains were discovered, heartbreaking this is. 

Zimbabwe has rapid infrastructural and land developments which are mostly in contrast with sustainable management of heritage property. Another example is of the Tokwe-Mukosi dam which was constructed in Masvingo province where Great Zimbabwe world heritage site is. (pic 2 below showing constructed dam)

Tokwe Mukosi

This led to loss of numerous archaeological heritage and to me it so happened because Zimbabwe does not have a clear policy for development-led archaeology. Lowenthal has opined that whatever burdens, a heritage can be it can never be unused: and he further noted the need to respect, accept, husband and transmit it.

These damages on heritage which result from the need to economically develop land for economic growth has triggered my concern to advocate for the preservation and maintenance of heritage for posterity in Zimbabwe. From my observations and analysis of heritage management policies and economic/environmental policies, the relations are not cordial but rather environmental and economic concerns override those of heritage protection. Without a blueprint to determine who is responsible for the heritage impact assessments, the nation will soon mourn most of its heritage. In fact, amateur heritage managers will continue to emerge from out of the blue and recommend the developmental projects to progress just so they receive their wages for the job done.

As a heritage manager in making, with a little experience in the practical field of heritage management I have embarked on this journey. This challenging journey to legally represent and protect the endangered heritage of my precious motherland Zimbabwe is not easy but I have come too far to be intimidated already. Taking an active and supportive role to conscientise all that know me about this need to speak out and save our heritage. Economic development or heritage for posterity? I choose sustainable use, development and inter-generational equity for our common identity, heritage.

Reference;

Lowenthal, D. e.d (1998) The Heritage Crusade and the Spoils of History.

Ndoro, W.  (2005) The Preservation of Great Zimbabwe. Your Monument our Shrine. ICCROM

Picture 1 taken by blog author