The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Decoloniality and critical African heritage studies
Abstract
This paper explores the potential coloniality of Critical Heritage Studies (CHS) as it is experienced by some in African contexts. In response it calls for a decolonial turn that recognises a need for epistemological pluralism in this disciplinary area. The paper begins by distinguishing between decoloniality and decolonisation. It then summarises the colonial roots of heritage and their persistence in some African heritage thinking and practice before exploring coloniality in relation to CHS and African heritage studies. Finally, the paper proposes a decolonial turn.
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Cites
Smith, L. (2006) · doi:10.4324/9780203602263 · Cited by 4,094
COLONIALITY AND MODERNITY/RATIONALITY
Quijano, A. (2007) · Cultural Studies · doi:10.1080/09502380601164353 · Cited by 3,747
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Research works printed but not linked: 8
- Karega-Munene. 2009. “Toward Recognition of the Right to a Cultural Past in the Twenty-First Century: An Example from East Africa.” In Postcolonial Archaeologies in Africa, edited by P. Schmidt, 77–94. Santa Fe, NM: School for Advanced Research Press.
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- Mguni, S., and B. Smith. Forthcoming. “Rock Art and the African Landscape: Explorations of Paintings from Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe and Chongoni Hills, Malaŵi.” Critical African Heritage Studies, edited by A. Sinamai, J. D. Giblin, S., Chirikure, and I. Odiaua. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
- Ndlovu, N. 2009. “Access to Rock Art Sites: A Right or a Qualification?” South African Archaeological Bulletin 64 (189): 61–68. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40588136.
- Ndlovu, N. Forthcoming. “Excluding Communities, Liberation Heritage and Managing Conflict: Tracing ‘Westernised’ Heritage Practices in Southern Africa.” In Critical African Heritage Studies, edited by A. Sinamai, J. D. Giblin, S. Chirikure, and I. Odiaua. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
- Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S. J. 2021. “Insurgent Decolonisation: Ndlovu-Gatsheni on the Sins of Colonialism.” Review of African Political Economy. https://roape.net/2021/03/02/insurgent-decolonisation-ndlovu-gatsheni-on-the-sins-of-colonialism/.
- Sinamai, A., J. D. Giblin, S. Chirikure, and I. Odiaua, eds. Forthcoming. Critical African Heritage Studies. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Kong, T. T. H., Zou, R., & Xiao, H. (2025) · Tourism Management Perspectives · doi:10.1016/j.tmp.2025.101390 · Cited by 10
Ismail, N. A., Boas, I., Peth, S. A., Zhu, A. L., Sasiwongsaroj, K., Husa, L. C., Berger, M., Gebeyehu, A. K., Sall, A., Chaisingkananont, S., et al. (2026) · Geo Geography and Environment · doi:10.1002/geo2.70054 · Cited by 2
Onyemechalu, S. J., & Ugwuanyi, J. K. (2025) · International Journal of Heritage Studies · doi:10.1080/13527258.2025.2496876 · Cited by 2
On decolonising heritage law: a plea for a structural approach and a tentative proposal
Giorgallis, A. (2026) · International Journal of Heritage Studies · doi:10.1080/13527258.2026.2675711 · Cited by 1
From the few to the many: re-possession and the heritage moment
Brumann, C. (2026) · International Journal of Heritage Studies · doi:10.1080/13527258.2026.2654894
Ancient Egyptian human remains and more-than-human networks in Dutch museum collections
Elatta, P. A. (2026) · International Journal of Heritage Studies · doi:10.1080/13527258.2026.2689923
Loftsdóttir, K., & Santana, R. G. (2026) · Tourism and Hospitality · doi:10.3390/tourhosp7100348
Material noise at Cape Coast Castle: The costs of decolonizing heritage
Wei, X. (2026) · Journal of Material Culture · doi:10.1177/13591835261502837
Ancestors: Critical Reflections on Rehumanization and Care at Manchester Museum
Chipangura, N. (2026) · Journal of Bioethical Inquiry · doi:10.1007/s11673-026-10654-5
Metadata
- Authors
- Giblin, J. D., Sinamai, A., Chirikure, S., & Odiaua, I.
- Affiliations
- National Museums Scotland (GB)
- La Trobe University (AU)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- World Bank (US)
- Corresponding author
- Giblin, John D.
- ORCID
- Sinamai, Ashton
- Venue
- International Journal of Heritage Studies
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2024-08-23
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1467-1475
- ISSN
- 1352-7258 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-3610
- OpenAlex
- W4401811558
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 2
- FWCI
- 9.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Heritage Studies (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Cultural Identity and Heritage
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › African cultural and philosophical studies
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Decolonial Thought and Epistemologies
- Keywords
- decoloniality, decolonization, critical heritage studies, coloniality, epistemological pluralism, decolonial turn
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