Cultural heritage is a vital component that preserves our collective identity, reflecting our history, traditions, values and fostering a sense of belonging and community cohesion. It includes both tangible and intangible heritage. In the face of accelerating globalisation and modernisation, preserving this invaluable legacy requires proactive measures to ensure its endurance for future generations.
What Then is Cultural Heritage?
Cultural heritage refers to the tangible and intangible aspects of a culture, traditions, customs, practices and artifacts that are passed down from one generation to the next within a community or society to ensure the continuation of our collective identity and cultural diversity.
The tangible aspect of cultural heritage refers to the physical objects, structures and sites such as:
Monuments and buildings: Made up of historic sites, architecture and landmarks.
Artifacts: This includes objects, relics and artworks that hold cultural significance.
Documents: These are historical records, manuscripts and other written materials.
The intangible aspect of cultural heritage refers to the non-physical aspects such as:
Traditions: These are customs, practices, rituals that are passed down through generations.
Oral traditions: These are stories, legends and myths that are passed down through oral transmission.
Language: It is made up of verbal and non-verbal communication, including dialects and idioms.
Music and dance: These include traditional music, dance and performance arts.
Festivals and celebrations: These are events that showcase cultural traditions and values.
Importance of Cultural Heritage
Identity
Cultural heritage helps to shape a community’s identity through the following means:
(a) Sense of belonging: It connects us to our community, traditions and values.
(b) Self-expression: It influences our language, customs and artistic expressions.
(c) Roots and traditions: Preserving cultural heritage helps us understand our past and inform our present.
History
It helps us to learn from history through:
(a) Preserving the past: Cultural heritage sites, artifacts and traditions provide a window into our collective history.
(b) Learning from ancestors: Studying cultural heritage helps us appreciate the achievements and struggles of previous generations.
(c) Shaping the future: By understanding our cultural heritage, we can build a more informed future.
Diversity
Cultural heritage celebrates the diversity of human experience and expression which also involves:
(a) Promoting understanding: Appreciating cultural diversity fosters empathy, tolerance and global awareness.
(b) Enriching society: Cultural heritage contributes to the richness and vibrancy of our communities, making them more interesting and dynamic.
(c) Celebrating differences: Cultural heritage highlights the unique experiences, traditions and perspectives of various communities.
Pathway to Sustaining Cultural Heritage
Education and awareness
Educating communities, stakeholders and tourists about cultural heritage significance promotes appreciation and conservation. This can be achieved through cultural heritage programs, workshops and public outreach initiatives.
Intergenerational knowledge transfer
Encourages the transfer of cultural knowledge, traditions and values from one generation to the next, ensuring the continuity and vitality of cultural heritage through the following means:
(a) Storytelling: It encourages storytelling as a means of passing down cultural history, traditions, practices and values.
(b) Hands-on training: By providing hands-on training in traditional crafts, music, dance and other cultural practices, it allows younger generations to learn by doing.
(c) Community events: Organise community events that celebrate cultural heritage and provide opportunities for intergenerational knowledge transfer such as festivals, workshops, cultural fairs, etc.
(d) Mentorship programs: Establish mentorship programs where elders and experienced community members can share their knowledge and skills with younger generations.
Community engagement and participation
Fostering community ownership and responsibility is crucial for cultural heritage preservation. This can be achieved in the following ways:
(a) Empowering local communities: By involving local communities in decision making processes and encouraging them to take ownership of their cultural heritage.
(b) Inclusive decision making: Ensuring that decision-making processes are inclusive and representative of diverse community perspective.
(c) Capacity building: By providing training and capacity building programs for community members to manage and conserve their cultural heritage.
(d) Community-led initiative: By supporting community-led initiatives and projects that promote cultural heritage preservation.
Policy advocacy: Advocating laws and policies that protect cultural heritage ensures its preservation for future generation. International cooperation and community involvement are crucial in shaping effective policies.
Sustainable tourism: Cultural heritage develops sustainable tourism practices that generate revenue for its conservation, while promoting cross-cultural understanding. Community-based tourism initiative can benefit local communities and involve them in decision making.
Conservation and restoration
Conservation and restoration measures to protect cultural heritage sites and artifacts through:
(a) Conservation planning: Develop conservation plans that balance preservation with community needs and interests.
(b) Restoration and repairs: Conduct restoration and repair work using traditional techniques and materials where possible.
(c) Monitoring and maintenance: Regularly monitoring, maintaining cultural heritage sites and artifacts to prevent deterioration.
(d) Identification and documentation: Documenting and recording cultural heritage assets systematically is essential for their preservation. It involves detailed surveys, architectural drawings, photographic records and scientific analysis.
Cultural expression and creativity
It involves various ways in which a community expresses its identity, values and traditions through art, music, dance, theatre, literature and other forms of creative expression in the following ways:
(a) Community engagement: Engage communities in cultural expression and creativity by ensuring that they are actively involved in preserving and promoting their own cultural heritage.
(b) Document archive: Cultural expressions done through recordings, photographs and written descriptions to preserve them for future generation.
(c) Encourage contemporary creativity: Foster contemporary artistic expressions that centre on cultural heritage, allowing them to evolve and remain relevant.
(d) Promote traditional arts: There is need to support and promote traditional art forms, such as music, dance and theatre to keep them alive and vibrant.
*Augusta Obilo (Nee Uzu) is Principal Heritage Officer, National Museum Benin City.
