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Understanding Cultural Landscape at Great Zimbabwe

Realms of Power

Ashton Sinamai

Understanding Cultural Landscape at Great Zimbabwe: Realms of Power by Ashton Sinamai engages with archaeology through Karanga/Kalanga concepts of cosmology and philosophy to understand the landscape at Great Zimbabwe, the medieval city and cultural heritage site. Sinamai un-disciplines and decolonializes archaeology and highlights aspects of the landscape that have been impacted by colonial legislations, nationalization, and internationalization. This book provides new perspectives on the landscape, and it addresses debates among African and Western archaeologists in reforming the practice, interpretation, and construction of archaeological narratives in Africa. Sinamai debunks Western myths by exploring African heritage through diverse knowledge systems to illuminate our understanding of place. Each chapter unfurls a variety of facets within Great Zimbabwe, discovering what a place can mean, how it shapes culture, and what emotions and memories can be evoked through local narratives. This book goes beyond human memory and shows how the landscape also remembers. African knowledge systems are essential to the development and understanding of African archaeology and African heritage management systems.

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Lexington Books
Pages: 174 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-66692-690-3 • Hardback • January 2025 • $105.00 • (£81.00)
Subjects: Political Science / World / African, Social Science / Archaeology, Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural

Ashton Sinamai is honorary associate at La Trobe University.

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Owning the Narrative

Chapter 1: Understanding the Great Zimbabwe Landscape

Chapter 2: Legislating Native Culture: The Colonial Legislation and Great Zimbabwe

Chapter 3: Landscape, Memory, and Culture at Great Zimbabwe

Chapter 4: The Projection of Power at Great Zimbabwe

Chapter 5: Landscape, Loss, and Gain: Developing the Destination

Chapter 6: Human Memory and Landscape at Great Zimbabwe

Chapter 7: Sound, Noise, and Ambience and the Great Zimbabwe Landscape

Chapter 8: Sensory Experience and the Ruined Landscape: Awe/Fear as A Heritage Experience

Chapter 9: Decoloniality and Understanding the Changing Landscape at Great Zimbabwe

References

About the Author

Ashton Sinamai reinterprets Great Zimbabwe through local knowledge, listening to voices that conventional academic studies have often silenced. This book makes a vital contribution to the decolonization of archaeology and heritage studies. Through an exploration of local communities and their relations with the living, remembering landscape, Sinamai confronts colonial 'pith helmet archaeology' with African understandings of Africa’s own heritage.


— Annalisa Bolin, Aarhus University


A refreshing exploration of the Great Zimbabwe cultural landscape written by Ashton Sinamai, who not only grew up in the area but also wears critical lenses to reflect on disciplinary practice. A beautiful story.


— Shadreck Chirikure, University of Oxford


Understanding Cultural Landscape at Great Zimbabwe

Realms of Power

Cover Image
Hardback
Summary
Summary
  • Understanding Cultural Landscape at Great Zimbabwe: Realms of Power by Ashton Sinamai engages with archaeology through Karanga/Kalanga concepts of cosmology and philosophy to understand the landscape at Great Zimbabwe, the medieval city and cultural heritage site. Sinamai un-disciplines and decolonializes archaeology and highlights aspects of the landscape that have been impacted by colonial legislations, nationalization, and internationalization. This book provides new perspectives on the landscape, and it addresses debates among African and Western archaeologists in reforming the practice, interpretation, and construction of archaeological narratives in Africa. Sinamai debunks Western myths by exploring African heritage through diverse knowledge systems to illuminate our understanding of place. Each chapter unfurls a variety of facets within Great Zimbabwe, discovering what a place can mean, how it shapes culture, and what emotions and memories can be evoked through local narratives. This book goes beyond human memory and shows how the landscape also remembers. African knowledge systems are essential to the development and understanding of African archaeology and African heritage management systems.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 174 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
    978-1-66692-690-3 • Hardback • January 2025 • $105.00 • (£81.00)
    Subjects: Political Science / World / African, Social Science / Archaeology, Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural
Author
Author
  • Ashton Sinamai is honorary associate at La Trobe University.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Acknowledgments

    Introduction: Owning the Narrative

    Chapter 1: Understanding the Great Zimbabwe Landscape

    Chapter 2: Legislating Native Culture: The Colonial Legislation and Great Zimbabwe

    Chapter 3: Landscape, Memory, and Culture at Great Zimbabwe

    Chapter 4: The Projection of Power at Great Zimbabwe

    Chapter 5: Landscape, Loss, and Gain: Developing the Destination

    Chapter 6: Human Memory and Landscape at Great Zimbabwe

    Chapter 7: Sound, Noise, and Ambience and the Great Zimbabwe Landscape

    Chapter 8: Sensory Experience and the Ruined Landscape: Awe/Fear as A Heritage Experience

    Chapter 9: Decoloniality and Understanding the Changing Landscape at Great Zimbabwe

    References

    About the Author

Reviews
Reviews
  • Ashton Sinamai reinterprets Great Zimbabwe through local knowledge, listening to voices that conventional academic studies have often silenced. This book makes a vital contribution to the decolonization of archaeology and heritage studies. Through an exploration of local communities and their relations with the living, remembering landscape, Sinamai confronts colonial 'pith helmet archaeology' with African understandings of Africa’s own heritage.


    — Annalisa Bolin, Aarhus University


    A refreshing exploration of the Great Zimbabwe cultural landscape written by Ashton Sinamai, who not only grew up in the area but also wears critical lenses to reflect on disciplinary practice. A beautiful story.


    — Shadreck Chirikure, University of Oxford


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