Disciplines associated with heritage, including history, archaeology and anthropology, are rooted in western academic concepts and paradigms. While these serve the contexts in which they developed, there is a need to examine how heritage and the past are accessed, interpreted, understood and used in other contexts. This is of particular relevance to World Heritage. Do the criteria used to determine the Outstanding Universal Values of World Heritage Sites truly reflect a universal understanding of heritage, or are they the legacy of colonial perceptions of what is heritage-worthy? How can experts and civil society stakeholders approach World Heritage in new ways that encompass the multiplicity of perspectives and values?

This session will deepen the debate around how heritage values and narratives that have been marginalized by current approaches to the past and present, can be identified and given a platform and place in creating a richer, deeper and universally relevant heritage narrative to World Heritage Sites.

MODERATOR: Jonathan Sharfman (South Africa)

SPEAKERS

Ciraj Rassool (South Africa)

Robert Parthesius (Netherlands)

Pascall Taruvinga (South Africa)