Challenges to Identifying and Managing Intangible Cultural Heritage in Mauritius, Zanzibar and Seychelles

CODESRIA, ISBN: 2-86978-215-2; ISBN 13: 978-2-86978-215-0; 93 pages, 2008

This book is a preliminary discussion of factors challenging the management of intangible cultural heritage in the African communities of Zanzibar, Mauritius and Seychelles. These islands are part of an overlapping cultural and economic zone influenced by a long history of slavery and colonial rule, a situation that has produced inequalities and underdevelopment. In all of them, heritage management is seriously underfinanced and under-resourced.

African descendant heritage is given little attention and this continues to erode identity and sense of belonging to the nation.

In Zanzibar, tensions between majority and minority political parties affect heritage initiatives on the island.

In Mauritius, the need to diversify the economy and tourism sector is encouraging the commercialisation of heritage and the homogenisation of Creole identity.

In Seychelles, the legacy of socialist rule affects the
conceptualisation and management of heritage, thereby discouraging a thorough exploration of the island’s wide range of
intangible heritages.

Through this book the author expresses the urgent need to commit more funding and greater attention to
heritage management in Africa.