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Books by Albino Jopela

Papers by Albino Jopela

Managing Heritage in Africa: Who Cares? , 2018

This chapter is an attempt to demonstrate that the so called traditional management systems can e... more This chapter is an attempt to demonstrate that the so called traditional management systems can effectively protect heritage when operated within a combined framework of traditional authority and modern systems of heritage management.

Reshaping Urban Conservation: The Historic Urban Landscape Approach in Action, 2019

In 2011, a 5-day multi-stakeholder workshop was organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on ... more In 2011, a 5-day multi-stakeholder workshop was organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on the application of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach on the Island of Mozambique. This was followed by a detailed study of the changes in the architectural fabric that had taken place since 1983 (Island of Mozambique Historic Urban Landscape in Perspective: Part 1 – Stone Town), published in 2012. Besides the introduction of a holistic integrated urban approach, one of the key contributions of the HUL approach for conservation of the Island was the emphasis on the need for effective civic engagement tools that allow the involvement of a diverse cross section of stakeholders.
Whereas the government conservation and development efforts have been tradi- tionally supported by multiple local stakeholders, public-private partnership has not yet been fully assessed and recognized as part of an integrated framework for con- servation and management of the Island of Mozambique. Taking stock of local development programs and conservation initiatives, this paper emphasizes the importance and the challenges of building public-private partnerships for sustain- able conservation of the Island. This reflection will take into account the cultural, political, economic, and administrative elements and dynamics that influence not only the implementation of the Historic Urban Landscape approach but also the way heritage is used, preserved, and managed on the Island of Mozambique.

In Mozambique only a few hundred rock art sites are known and documented, and of these even fewer... more In Mozambique only a few hundred rock art sites are known and documented, and of these even fewer are effectively managed. Despite the efforts of the heritage in- stitutions to manage rock art sites, very few sites have actually benefited from modern heritage management approaches. There is now a growing awareness that many communities in Africa have always had traditional management structures, or custodianship systems, to maintain respect for, and to ensure the survival of, culturally important and sacred places, some of which contain rock art. Common- ly these are ritual sites that are used traditionally as rain-making sites or spiritual places where the ancestors are buried in caves and crevices in the mountains. Thus some of the rock art sites in central Mozambique are perceived as powerful places for communication with the ancestors and it is because of this that the local com- munities traditionally manage them. In this study, the traditional custodianship of rock art sites at Chinhamapere Hill in the Manica province of central Mozambique is studied to see whether this is a system that can be used to manage the cultural heritage in Mozambique, and possibly beyond.

What do researchers and heritage practitioners do when their concepts of place do not coincide wi... more What do researchers and heritage practitioners do when their concepts of place do not coincide with those held by local communities? Discussing a case study from Mozambique against its wider southern African backdrop, this article argues that professionals cannot overlook the fact that many rural communities in this part of Africa do their version of ‘archaeology’ by reconstructing the past via their ancestors. The primary focus is to establish a ground for epistemic levelling between ‘scientific’ and ‘other’ knowledges and an ensuing heritage ethics from which to articulate a set of key tenets for future engagements with local communities and public archaeology. In order to develop an approach that is inclusive and within the scope of ‘a truly engaged archaeology’, we explore the potential of encounters between different epistemologies, between those of professional practitioners and those of the public they engage with.

Formal heritage management systems have failed to protect archaeological sites in many parts of s... more Formal heritage management systems have failed to protect archaeological sites in many parts of southern Africa. Since historical times, local communities living in close proximity to heritage places have often played a large role in ensuring the survival of places of cultural signifi cance through their traditional custodianship systems. Yet often these systems are ignored or not fully recognized by the State heritage management organizations. This study investigates whether an intimate understanding of traditional custodianship systems can provide direction towards a more effective and sustainable method of managing archaeological sites imbued with sacred values. In an attempt to harness the positive parts of both the traditional and formal systems, the work recommends the adoption of a framework enriched by a philosophy of rooted cosmopolitanism that embraces legal pluralism in heritage legislation and cultural polices.

Management of rock art sites entails continuous monitoring of changes in the condition of the sit... more Management of rock art sites entails continuous monitoring of changes in the condition of the site. Monitoring ensures that changes that occur at the site over time are recorded and controlled. Monitoring is a crucial step in any management process because it enables conservators and managers to determine causes and rates of deterioration, derive a prognosis as well as develop appropriate conservation strategies for sites. Monitoring is thus an indispensable tool for rock art managers in their attempts to minimize or mitigate site damage. This paper analyses how condition change was monitored at a particular rock art site (BNE 1) in Clocolan district, Free State Province, South Africa. Photographic analysis using a digital camera and computer software (Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 2 and ImageJ), was used to monitor condition change. It is suggested that future monitoring of public rock art sites in Free State in particular and in South Africa in general, should be based on a negotiated partnership between interested parties.

In Mozambique, as in other parts of Africa, since pre-colonial times, traditional management syst... more In Mozambique, as in other parts of Africa, since pre-colonial times, traditional management systems were used in order to help to preserve places with cultural significance such as rock art sites. Some rock art sites in central Mozambique, are perceived as powerful places for communication with the ancestors. Therefore, they are traditionally managed by local communities. A recent investigation undertaken at the rock art sites of Chinhamapere Hill in the Manica province of Central Mozambique helps to support this discussion. This is centred on the traditional custodianship of archaeological sites as a strategy for managing cultural heritage. Em Moçambique, assim como em outras partes do continente Africano, os sistemas tradicionais de gestão do património tem ajudado, desde o período pré-colonial, a preservar locais com significado cultural, como é o caso de sítios com pinturas rupestres. Na região centro de Moçambique algumas estações com pinturas rupestres são concebidas como poderosos locais de interação entre as comunidades locais e o mundo dos espíritos ancestrais. Por essa razão, estes locais são tradicionalmente conservados pelas comunidades viventes. A presente discussão é baseada na recente pesquisa levada a cabo na estação de Chinhamapere no Distrito de Manica, na Provívincia de Manica. A mesma é centrada na custódia tradicional de estações arqueológicas como estratégia para a gestão do património cultural. Studies in African Past 8: 161-177.

11 Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Os constrangimentos que afectam o património cultural... more 11 Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Os constrangimentos que afectam o património cultural imóvel em Moçambique. In: Jopela, A. (Coord.) Manual de Conservação do Património Cultural Imóvel em Moçambique: 11-20. Maputo: Ministério da Cultura-Direcção Nacional do Património Cultural.

Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Custódia tradicional do património cultural imóvel. In: ... more Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Custódia tradicional do património cultural imóvel. In: Jopela, A. (Coord.) Manual de Conservação do Património Cultural Imóvel em Moçambique: 54-59. Maputo: Ministério da Cultura-Direcção Nacional do Património Cultural.

Book Reviews by Albino Jopela

Managing Heritage in Africa: Who Cares? , 2018

This chapter is an attempt to demonstrate that the so called traditional management systems can e... more This chapter is an attempt to demonstrate that the so called traditional management systems can effectively protect heritage when operated within a combined framework of traditional authority and modern systems of heritage management.

Reshaping Urban Conservation: The Historic Urban Landscape Approach in Action, 2019

In 2011, a 5-day multi-stakeholder workshop was organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on ... more In 2011, a 5-day multi-stakeholder workshop was organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on the application of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach on the Island of Mozambique. This was followed by a detailed study of the changes in the architectural fabric that had taken place since 1983 (Island of Mozambique Historic Urban Landscape in Perspective: Part 1 – Stone Town), published in 2012. Besides the introduction of a holistic integrated urban approach, one of the key contributions of the HUL approach for conservation of the Island was the emphasis on the need for effective civic engagement tools that allow the involvement of a diverse cross section of stakeholders.
Whereas the government conservation and development efforts have been tradi- tionally supported by multiple local stakeholders, public-private partnership has not yet been fully assessed and recognized as part of an integrated framework for con- servation and management of the Island of Mozambique. Taking stock of local development programs and conservation initiatives, this paper emphasizes the importance and the challenges of building public-private partnerships for sustain- able conservation of the Island. This reflection will take into account the cultural, political, economic, and administrative elements and dynamics that influence not only the implementation of the Historic Urban Landscape approach but also the way heritage is used, preserved, and managed on the Island of Mozambique.

In Mozambique only a few hundred rock art sites are known and documented, and of these even fewer... more In Mozambique only a few hundred rock art sites are known and documented, and of these even fewer are effectively managed. Despite the efforts of the heritage in- stitutions to manage rock art sites, very few sites have actually benefited from modern heritage management approaches. There is now a growing awareness that many communities in Africa have always had traditional management structures, or custodianship systems, to maintain respect for, and to ensure the survival of, culturally important and sacred places, some of which contain rock art. Common- ly these are ritual sites that are used traditionally as rain-making sites or spiritual places where the ancestors are buried in caves and crevices in the mountains. Thus some of the rock art sites in central Mozambique are perceived as powerful places for communication with the ancestors and it is because of this that the local com- munities traditionally manage them. In this study, the traditional custodianship of rock art sites at Chinhamapere Hill in the Manica province of central Mozambique is studied to see whether this is a system that can be used to manage the cultural heritage in Mozambique, and possibly beyond.

What do researchers and heritage practitioners do when their concepts of place do not coincide wi... more What do researchers and heritage practitioners do when their concepts of place do not coincide with those held by local communities? Discussing a case study from Mozambique against its wider southern African backdrop, this article argues that professionals cannot overlook the fact that many rural communities in this part of Africa do their version of ‘archaeology’ by reconstructing the past via their ancestors. The primary focus is to establish a ground for epistemic levelling between ‘scientific’ and ‘other’ knowledges and an ensuing heritage ethics from which to articulate a set of key tenets for future engagements with local communities and public archaeology. In order to develop an approach that is inclusive and within the scope of ‘a truly engaged archaeology’, we explore the potential of encounters between different epistemologies, between those of professional practitioners and those of the public they engage with.

Formal heritage management systems have failed to protect archaeological sites in many parts of s... more Formal heritage management systems have failed to protect archaeological sites in many parts of southern Africa. Since historical times, local communities living in close proximity to heritage places have often played a large role in ensuring the survival of places of cultural signifi cance through their traditional custodianship systems. Yet often these systems are ignored or not fully recognized by the State heritage management organizations. This study investigates whether an intimate understanding of traditional custodianship systems can provide direction towards a more effective and sustainable method of managing archaeological sites imbued with sacred values. In an attempt to harness the positive parts of both the traditional and formal systems, the work recommends the adoption of a framework enriched by a philosophy of rooted cosmopolitanism that embraces legal pluralism in heritage legislation and cultural polices.

Management of rock art sites entails continuous monitoring of changes in the condition of the sit... more Management of rock art sites entails continuous monitoring of changes in the condition of the site. Monitoring ensures that changes that occur at the site over time are recorded and controlled. Monitoring is a crucial step in any management process because it enables conservators and managers to determine causes and rates of deterioration, derive a prognosis as well as develop appropriate conservation strategies for sites. Monitoring is thus an indispensable tool for rock art managers in their attempts to minimize or mitigate site damage. This paper analyses how condition change was monitored at a particular rock art site (BNE 1) in Clocolan district, Free State Province, South Africa. Photographic analysis using a digital camera and computer software (Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 2 and ImageJ), was used to monitor condition change. It is suggested that future monitoring of public rock art sites in Free State in particular and in South Africa in general, should be based on a negotiated partnership between interested parties.

In Mozambique, as in other parts of Africa, since pre-colonial times, traditional management syst... more In Mozambique, as in other parts of Africa, since pre-colonial times, traditional management systems were used in order to help to preserve places with cultural significance such as rock art sites. Some rock art sites in central Mozambique, are perceived as powerful places for communication with the ancestors. Therefore, they are traditionally managed by local communities. A recent investigation undertaken at the rock art sites of Chinhamapere Hill in the Manica province of Central Mozambique helps to support this discussion. This is centred on the traditional custodianship of archaeological sites as a strategy for managing cultural heritage. Em Moçambique, assim como em outras partes do continente Africano, os sistemas tradicionais de gestão do património tem ajudado, desde o período pré-colonial, a preservar locais com significado cultural, como é o caso de sítios com pinturas rupestres. Na região centro de Moçambique algumas estações com pinturas rupestres são concebidas como poderosos locais de interação entre as comunidades locais e o mundo dos espíritos ancestrais. Por essa razão, estes locais são tradicionalmente conservados pelas comunidades viventes. A presente discussão é baseada na recente pesquisa levada a cabo na estação de Chinhamapere no Distrito de Manica, na Provívincia de Manica. A mesma é centrada na custódia tradicional de estações arqueológicas como estratégia para a gestão do património cultural. Studies in African Past 8: 161-177.

11 Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Os constrangimentos que afectam o património cultural... more 11 Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Os constrangimentos que afectam o património cultural imóvel em Moçambique. In: Jopela, A. (Coord.) Manual de Conservação do Património Cultural Imóvel em Moçambique: 11-20. Maputo: Ministério da Cultura-Direcção Nacional do Património Cultural.

Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Custódia tradicional do património cultural imóvel. In: ... more Para citar este artigo: Jopela, A. 2012. Custódia tradicional do património cultural imóvel. In: Jopela, A. (Coord.) Manual de Conservação do Património Cultural Imóvel em Moçambique: 54-59. Maputo: Ministério da Cultura-Direcção Nacional do Património Cultural.