Patrimônio vivo em Inhambane: distrito de Vilanculos, 1992-2004

Abstract

The analysis of the present theme on heritage management and community participation intends to focus on identifying the meaning and implications of the role of the community in heritage preservation. To achieve such intentions, special attention will be given to the symbolic value attributed to the heritage to be preserved, so that not only the tangible heritage is valued, but also, and aware of its importance, the intangible heritage and all that it signifies. This is an approach that follows a very current trend, of looking at heritage as something alive in each one of us and which it is important to preserve for future generations. In other words, it is not enough to discover or rediscover facts that, in the present, help us to interpret the past, but that, in the same way, are known and respected by future generations. With this vision, the aim is to demonstrate the advantages of guiding heritage management actions from the "bottom up", by specific actions for specific cases. Whenever possible, the generalisation of solutions which end up contributing to a downgrading of what should be the main role of the local community, that of "guardian" of history, culture and heritage, is avoided. To give an air of specificity to the present work, the District of Vilanculos, in Inhambane Province, where the archaeological sites of Manyikeni and Chibuene are located, was chosen as the study area. The period of analysis starts in 1992 and ends in 2004. The methodology was based on the bibliographic collection of data which help to sustain the argument guiding the work and which refer to local, national, regional and international experiences on the relationship between heritage management, community participation and cultural tourism. Another tool used was the collection of empirical data by means of interviews in the context of fieldwork.(TRADUÇAO NOSSA)