Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng
Mahikeng, the seat of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and capital of South Africa’s North West province, has identified tourism as an economic driver based on cultural heritage related to Batswana, Boer, and British contestation. However, the colonial heritage is underutilised as visitors come to M...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Publikon
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Modern Geográfia |
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| Online Access: | https://moderngeografia.eu/en/contested-heritage-in-south-africa-perspectives-from-mahikeng-2/ |
| _version_ | 1797246113780072448 |
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| author | Drummond, James |
| author_facet | Drummond, James |
| author_sort | Drummond, James |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mahikeng, the seat of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and capital of South Africa’s North West province, has identified tourism as an economic driver based on cultural heritage related to Batswana, Boer, and British contestation. However, the colonial heritage is underutilised as visitors come to Mahikeng (formerly Mafeking) in search of experiences relating to the siege of Mafeking, the Anglo–Boer War, and the origins of the Boy Scouts movement but leave disappointed. This heritage has been downgraded in democratic post-apartheid South Africa as there is an agenda that seeks to highlight African cultural heritage, particularly relating to the anti-apartheid struggle. This formerly suppressed cultural heritage needs to be promoted as it is crucial to South Africa’s history, identity, and social cohesion. However, other heritages that are also important are falling by the wayside with the result that the country’s diversity as the ‘rainbow nation’ is being eroded, and heritage tourism opportunities, which could prompt Local Economic Development (LED), are missed. A more critical engagement with the colonial heritage by including African perspectives, critiques, interactions, and roles within the narrative is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:37:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a38459cee6f4eebaaeab8495d5a6104 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2062-1655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:37:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Publikon |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Modern Geográfia |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a38459cee6f4eebaaeab8495d5a61042024-03-25T11:49:31ZengPublikonModern Geográfia2062-16552024-06-011929110810.15170/MG.2024.19.02.06Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from MahikengDrummond, James0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7741-1391Department of Geography, North-West University; Mahikeng and School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of JohannesburgMahikeng, the seat of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and capital of South Africa’s North West province, has identified tourism as an economic driver based on cultural heritage related to Batswana, Boer, and British contestation. However, the colonial heritage is underutilised as visitors come to Mahikeng (formerly Mafeking) in search of experiences relating to the siege of Mafeking, the Anglo–Boer War, and the origins of the Boy Scouts movement but leave disappointed. This heritage has been downgraded in democratic post-apartheid South Africa as there is an agenda that seeks to highlight African cultural heritage, particularly relating to the anti-apartheid struggle. This formerly suppressed cultural heritage needs to be promoted as it is crucial to South Africa’s history, identity, and social cohesion. However, other heritages that are also important are falling by the wayside with the result that the country’s diversity as the ‘rainbow nation’ is being eroded, and heritage tourism opportunities, which could prompt Local Economic Development (LED), are missed. A more critical engagement with the colonial heritage by including African perspectives, critiques, interactions, and roles within the narrative is needed.https://moderngeografia.eu/en/contested-heritage-in-south-africa-perspectives-from-mahikeng-2/heritage tourismsouth africacolonial nostalgiamafekingcultural heritage |
| spellingShingle | Drummond, James Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng Modern Geográfia heritage tourism south africa colonial nostalgia mafeking cultural heritage |
| title | Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng |
| title_full | Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng |
| title_fullStr | Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng |
| title_short | Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng |
| title_sort | contested heritage in south africa perspectives from mahikeng |
| topic | heritage tourism south africa colonial nostalgia mafeking cultural heritage |
| url | https://moderngeografia.eu/en/contested-heritage-in-south-africa-perspectives-from-mahikeng-2/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT drummondjames contestedheritageinsouthafricaperspectivesfrommahikeng |