Whose Heritage Matters?
Mapping, making and mobilising heritage values for sustainable livelihoods in Cape Town and Kisumu.
Whose Heritage Matters is a 3-year research project (2019-2021) funded by the British Academy through the Sustainable Development Programme, with support from Mistra Urban Futures.
Cape Town and Kisumu are two secondary African cities with high levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality, but also rich in arts, cultural and heritage practices.
Harnessing cultural heritage may play a role in addressing these challenges. However, cultural heritage is a value-laden concept, particularly in the context of colonial histories and urban futures. How can we negotiate plural and competing heritage values? What are the challenges and opportunities in mobilising cultural heritage values to support more sustainable livelihoods?
In Cape Town and Kisumu project teams will learn by doing, using co-production to support creative activities to value cultural heritage. This involves a collaboration with artists and creative practitioners in Greatmore Studies in Cape Town and with community-based organisations around the cultural heritage sites of Kit Mikayi, Dunga Beach, Abindu and Seme Kaila in Kisumu County.
Team
Beth Perry | Vicky Habermehl | Vicky Simpson, Urban Institute, University of Sheffield | Rike Sitas, African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town | Patrick Hayombe and Fred Odede, Jaramogi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology, Kisumu