Javeria Mukhtar’s Post

Heritage sites across the globe have long faced challenges, conflicts and the Bimbia slave trade village in Cameroon in recent time, have proven to be no exception. But what are the facts? How could the situation have been handled better? And what steps should guide the way forward? My recent article on Cameroon News Agency provides in-depth answers to these questions with expert insights from a heritage anthropologist. This is the kind of story that touches my bones. Exploring the complexities of preserving history and cultural heritage. Read the full article here. https://lnkd.in/g4-M82-c

Our Tartu Living Lab, in collaboration with the Estonian Folklore Archives, has initiated the collection of local stories in the Ülejõe, Kvissentali, and Raadi districts of Tartu. Through this initiative, they encourage the preservation of nature-related place-based heritage in Tartu. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d5nCAuAx

Protecting cultural heritage is not the responsibility of the state to which that heritage belongs. Instead, all states and societies are responsible because destroying or looting any tangible or intangible heritage will sever the link between the present and the past.

This marks the first academic ‘response’ I have been part of! What a great moment it is to be able to have quick citation and integration of one’s work – which I recognise is a difference in disciplinary conventions. In this work, I offer a supporting role rather than leading on the article (Dr Scott Burnett). But I wanted to share it, along with the wonderful film made by Ilizwi Lenyaniso Lomhlaba young filmmakers that was the subject of our initial article. A trip to the Eastern Cape’s Sarah Baartman district: ‘Thyspunt: Khoisan Heritage’ https://lnkd.in/eh4D2KQj Title: Indigenous resurgence, collective ‘reminding’, and insidious binaries: a response to Verbuyst’s ‘settler colonialism and therapeutic discourses on the past.’  https://lnkd.in/ennkSKnh This essay intervenes in the on-going debate over the power-knowledge entanglements of classifying emic Indigenous resurgence accounts of the past as “therapeutic history”. We refer to how “therapeutic history” was defined by Ronald Niezen in his 2009 book, The Rediscovered Self. We argue that despite the important refinement of the concept made by Rafael Verbuyst in his application of the term in his work on Khoisan resurgence in South Africa, we believe it to be a problematic category, especially in Western knowledge production about Indigenous people. Our reasons are that the term conflates the use of history with its recovery, unfairly maligns Indigenous knowledge keepers as self-serving and uninterested in the truth, and introduces an insidious binary which has unwelcome discursive effects, in that longer chains of equivalence ultimately place Indigenous storying and knowledge keeping on the other side of an epistemological divide from “proper” history-writing. Burnett, S., Ahmed, N., Matthews, T. dee, Oliephant, J., & Walsh, A. (2024). Indigenous resurgence, collective ‘reminding’, and insidious binaries: a response to Verbuyst’s ‘settler colonialism and therapeutic discourses on the past.’ Critical Discourse Studies, 1–9. https://lnkd.in/ehiEGJJG

The Sosso-Bala is a revered balafon—a traditional wooden xylophone—integral to the cultural heritage of the Manding community in West Africa. Believed to have originated in the 13th century, it is considered the world’s oldest balafon. Historical Significance: According to tradition, the Sosso-Bala was once in the possession of Soumaoro Kanté, the king of the Sosso Empire. Following his defeat by Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire, the instrument was entrusted to the Kouyaté family of griots (traditional storytellers and musicians), who have safeguarded it for generations. Cultural Role: The Sosso-Bala holds profound symbolic value, representing freedom and identity for the Manding people. It is played during significant events such as the Muslim New Year and funerals. The designated guardian, known as the Balatigui, is responsible for its preservation and for imparting balafon-playing skills to the younger generation, ensuring the continuity of this rich musical tradition. Preservation Efforts: Recognizing its cultural importance, UNESCO has listed the Sosso-Bala as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This designation underscores the necessity of preserving the instrument and the traditions associated with it for future generations. For a deeper appreciation of the Sosso-Bala’s cultural significance, you might find the following video insightful: https://lnkd.in/gWaWs_h3

Happy Intenational Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples - it's today! Have a think about what that means to you and what it means to Indigenous peoples you do and don't know from around the world. Discuss it with your colleagues/friends/fam. Check out this deadly post and article for some thought seeds and inspiration. #UN #IndigenousPeoples #FirstNations #Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #LivingCulturalHeritage #CulturalHeritage #IndigenousCulture #FirstNationsCulture

المصطبة | Intangible Cultural Heritage and Peace Building in Palestine 24th June 2024, Monday  |  16.00-18.00 GMT/ 17.00-19.00 CEST Heritage is often at risk and under attack, either directly or indirectly, when violence and conflict escalate. Although targeting cultural heritage sites during conflict is not a new phenomenon, the role of cultural heritage in times of peace and conflict has received considerable international attention in recent years. Today, in Palestine, tangible and intangible cultural heritage is heavily impacted by ongoing conflicts, affecting the resilience and identity of communities. This session will focus on three interrelated areas: a) relational aspects and approaches to cultural heritage in conflict situations; b) the impact of conflict on intangible cultural heritage – such as songs, festivals and cultural practices – and the role that this intangible cultural heritage can play in post-conflict situations; and c) the relevance of people-centred and gendered approaches to cultural heritage in transforming conflict and building peace. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5emp_ZU Join us on Zoom: https://lnkd.in/eaePnFsa Add to your Google Calendar: https://lnkd.in/e6vDpcSd Moderator: Aurélie Broeckerhoff Speakers: Dr Marwan Darweish, Mahmoud Soliman, Laura Sulin, Mahmoud Makhamra

Do you carry memories of traditions and stories passed down through generations that celebrate the diverse hashtag #African heritage? Heritage & Flair are on a quest to uncover and share these precious narratives with the world, so let them feature yours! 👌🏾 How familiar are you with tales of our African cultures? Do you carry memories of traditions and stories passed down through generations that celebrate our diverse heritage? We are on a quest to uncover and share these precious narratives with the world, let us feature yours. 🙋🏾🙋🏾♂️ Sometimes what seems ordinary to you is profound to others and sometimes we carry far more similar stories than we realise... but we will never know until someone steps forward. Where are you and what does your regular day look like? How do you stay grounded? Who are you? How do you know who you are? How do you know about where you are? How do you want the world to remember you? Check out our site that honours the legacy of our ancestors while forging a path towards greater unity and social progress. 🌍 https://lnkd.in/d42bcjSy Activate to view larger image,

Reviving the best Chitimacha Language: Preserving a Vital Piece of Louisiana's Cultural Heritage Chitimacha Language plays a crucial role... https://lnkd.in/diCGAZaD #Chitimachalanguage Chitimacha Language plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage. It is through language that traditions, stories, and values are passed down from one generation to another. Language is not just a means of communication; it is a reflection of a community’s identity and history. In the case of the Chitimacha people of Louisiana, reviving ... Read more

How do we conserve #Indigenous and intangible heritage on our coasts?   🗓 Join us on Tuesday, June 25 at 4pm BST to learn from case studies drawn from around the world: https://lnkd.in/erhCYxxe #CulturalHeritage English Heritage