This study offers a groundbreaking exploration of the anthropology of death, intertwining it with postcolonial politics. It presents fresh perspectives that challenge conventional understandings, delving into how death rituals and beliefs are shaped by historical and cultural contexts. The work invites readers to reconsider the implications of death in societies affected by colonial legacies, making it a significant contribution to both anthropology and political discourse.
Focusing on the experiences of participants in land occupations near Lake Mutirikwi, this ethnographic and historical study explores the complexities of fast-track land reform in Zimbabwe. It traces the evolution of land rights from the colonial era to contemporary times, highlighting the socio-political implications and personal narratives of those affected. Through in-depth analysis, the book sheds light on the transformative effects of land reform on communities and their ongoing struggles for justice and recognition.
This book explores the politics of heritage. Beyond its use in the construction of identity or the politics of representation, labeling something 'heritage' is an intensely political act that legitimises certain processes over others. As a 'policy document' the World Heritage Convention gives institutional authority to discourses of 'heritage' and 'internationalism'. At the core of the world heritage 'system' is a tension between the need to protect the world's heritage, and the sovereignty of 'State Parties'. While there have been many recent changes to the world heritage 'system' - provoked by the imbalances of the World Heritage List, the eurocentricities its definitions, and a growing concern for its wider credibility, what cannot change is the sovereignty of 'State Parties'. Through labelling something 'world heritage' certain actions of the state are legitimised and empowered by claims to its 'outstanding universal value', which must be preserved for 'humanity'. Thus the world heritage 'system' can be viewed as an 'anti-politics machine' (Ferguson1990) which reifies the role of state bureaucracy in Africa through de-politicised claims to 'universal value'.