A Pandora’s Box: Indigenous Voices in Heritage Management Within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural Landscapes in South Africa

This research highlights the critical tension between indigenous knowledge systems and Western-influenced heritage management practices, particularly within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural Landscapes in South Africa. It reveals that while state-based heritage management has historically excluded indigenous communities, their inclusion could significantly enrich archaeological heritage management by drawing from collective memory, ritual practices, and indigenous knowledge. The study, based on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, emphasizes the therapeutic potential of inclusive approaches to bridge the gap between Western and indigenous perspectives, advocating for a more indigenously sensitive management system that could unlock deeper cultural insights.

Mlilo, T., & Bandama, F. (2025). A Pandora’s Box: Indigenous Voices in Heritage Management Within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural Landscapes in South Africa. Journal of Heritage Management, 10(1), 86–101. https://doi.org/10.1177/24559296241313095