Cultural Heritage Management Practices: Evidence from the World Heritage Site of Lalibela, Ethiopia

Abstract

Heritage is regarded as part of the reflection of innovation and expression of identity over collective memories of the past. This study examines the cultural heritage management practices evidence from the World Heritage Site of Lalibela, Ethiopia. There is a growing concern about the current cultural heritage management practices in Ethiopia. However, concerned parties have given low attention to the practice. This concern includes with the management and preservation of significant cultural sites and physical architectural heritage assets, cultural value, aesthetic and religious value. Accordingly, this renowned UNESCO Site needs scientific investigations to develop a management scheme in an attempt to limit the damage to the church. Qualitative exploratory research designs were applied to conduct this study. The data collection methods were focus group discussion and follow-up interviews. Judgmental sampling techniques were also used to obtain sample data from the target population (heritage stakeholders). The finding of the study proved that the local community cultural heritage management effort remains to be a challenging task. For more than 900 years, the local community played an important role in protecting and preserving this cultural heritage. However, the historic and artistic heritages are often unwisely destroyed or irreversibly damaged. This is because of unwarranted assumptions and presumptions.