The politics of heritage management in Mali : from UNESCO to Djenné / created by Charlotte Joy

Includes bibliographical reference and index

Part I. Putting Djenné on the map. Architecture and the 'creation' of Djenné in the West Archaeology and architecture UNESCO and becoming a World Heritage Site Part II. Life in Djenné. Islam Livelihood strategies Artisans, embodied knowledge and authenticity Guides and the regulation of history in Djenné Festival du Djennéry The lessons from intangible heritage Democratising heritage Djenné's future Heritage ethnographies

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djenné, 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 Djenné'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.