Breaking the Silence of Colonialism and Slavery: Redefining Authenticity and Integrity from an Anthropological View—Case Studies of Ghana’s Forts and Castles and Angola’s World Heritage Sites

A recent UNESCO/ICCROM/ICOMOS mission to Ghana’s Forts and Castles World Heritage Site revealed a critical gap in heritage preservation: the neglect of African anthropological perspectives in defining authenticity and integrity. This oversight has contributed to the poor state of these sites, which are central to Africa’s tangible and intangible heritage. The study highlights how community-driven narratives—such as those from Ghana’s forts and Angola’s Mbanza Kongo site (nominated in 2017)—can redefine heritage authenticity when integrated into preservation efforts. By centering local voices, this approach offers a more inclusive framework for managing World Heritage Sites, addressing the legacy of colonialism and slavery while preserving cultural significance.

Domingos, Z., & Mantebeah, E. M. A. (2026). Breaking the Silence of Colonialism and Slavery: Redefining Authenticity and Integrity from an Anthropological View—Case Studies of Ghana’s Forts and Castles and Angola’s World Heritage Sites. Heritage Authenticity in Theory and Practice in Africa, 233–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-92-2619-1_17