Governance and Regulations in the Integration of Local Communities for the Authenticity and Integrity of the Cultural Heritage of the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, Madagascar

Local community integration is crucial for preserving the authenticity and integrity of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as demonstrated by the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga in Madagascar. This site, listed in 2001, combines a fortified royal city, traditional and colonial architecture, ritual sanctuaries (Doany), and natural forest remnants, reflecting deep Austronesian and African cultural and spiritual imprints. The study reveals that coordinated governance involving both institutional and community actors, alongside the recognition of traditional systems like rituals and ancestral cults, is essential to maintain the site's outstanding universal value. This approach ensures the preservation of its associative cultural landscape while incorporating values of identity and sacredness inherent in local practices.

Razanakoto, P. (2026). Governance and Regulations in the Integration of Local Communities for the Authenticity and Integrity of the Cultural Heritage of the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, Madagascar. Heritage Authenticity in Theory and Practice in Africa, 277–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-92-2619-1_20