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Book Cover for: Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Africa: Crisis or Renaissance?, John Mack

Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Africa: Crisis or Renaissance?

John Mack

Addresses the continuing problems of the export of art and artefacts from Africa, and also of the design and target audiences of exhibitions both within and outside the continent.

The outflow of archaeological or artistic work from Africa, together with the ways of exhibiting African treasures outside Africa, are emerging as serious issues both in political and ethical terms. They are typified by a series of hot disputes concerning the legality of the exhibition of Nok terracotta pieces from Nigeria in the Louvre. Meanwhile in Africa, there has been an upsurge of active efforts by many ethnic groups - in Mali, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa and elsewhere - to create or re-create their own cultures by reviewing their cultural legacy. The book discusses the question: 'How should Africa's cultural heritage be preserved?' Scholars and museum professionals fromAfrica, Europe, America and Japan clarify the significance of 'Cultural Heritage' for African people in postcolonial Africa. They also explore how scholars and museum professionals outside Africa can support African colleagues inhanding down their cultural legacy to future generations.

Kenji Yoshida is Professor at the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan; John Mack, formerly Keeper of Ethnography at the British Museum, is Professor of World Art at the University of East Anglia.
The contributors include: RUMI UMINO, GODFREY MAHACHI, TEREBA TOGOLA, GEORGE S. MUDENDA, JASPER MORGAN CHALCRAFT, NORIKO AIKAWA-FAURE, ANITRA NETTLETON, MOYO OKEDIJI, YUKIYA KAWAGUCHI, TETSUYA KAMEI, MARY NOOTER ROBERTS, SHOICHIRO TAKEZAWA and KIPROP LAGAT

South Africa: Unisa Press (PB)

Book Details

  • Publisher: James Currey
  • Publish Date: Nov 20th, 2008
  • Pages: 224
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 7.80in - 7.80in - 0.60in - 1.00lb
  • EAN: 9780852559826
  • Categories: AfricanAfricanGeneral

About the Author

Mack, John: - John Mack is Professor of World Art Studies at the University of East Anglia and was formerly Senior Keeper at the British Museum, where he remains an advisor for the Museum's Africa Programme. He is an internationally-recognized authority on the arts and cultures of Africa and has published extensively on many subjects, taking a broadly anthropological approach to art, material, culture and archaeology. His recent publications include Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Africa: Crisis or Renaissance? (James Currey Publications, 2008) and The Art of Small Things (The British Museum Press, 2007).