PROMOTION OF INTANGIBLE HERITAGE IN THE CONSERVATION OF
NATURE AT THE LIVINGSTONE MUSEUM, ZAMBIA
Terry Nyambe, Assistant keeper of Ichthyology, Livingstone Museum, Livingstone,
Zambia.
E-mail: terryjnr2002@yahoo.com
Biography
Since 2003, Terry Nyambe has been the Assistant Keeper of Ichthyology in the Natural
History Department of the Livingston Museum in Zambia. He studied ecology at the
University of Zambia. Since his university graduation, he has obtained a diploma in
information technology. In 2006 he completed a course in biodiversity and fish taxonomy
at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. In 2007, he took a course in
museology in Osaka, Japan, co-hosted by Minpaku and Lake Biwa Museums. His work at
the Livingston Museum involves research, exhibitions, curation, documentation, and
publications.
Background
According to the convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage,
intangible heritage is defined as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge,
and skills, as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces associated
therewith, that communities, groups, and individuals recognize as part of their cultural
heritage. Intangible heritage is usually transmitted from generation to generation.
From 2003 to 2004, the Livingstone Museum underwent a major structural
rehabilitation. During this period, exhibitions had to be brought down and put up at a
temporary venue. After the rehabilitation was finished, the museum professionals felt
there was a great need to improve and in some instances change exhibitions. In the same
vein, the Natural History Department staff thought it wise to introduce the aspect of
intangible heritage. Traditional methods of preservation of nature were to be included in
the new exhibitions. Usually these were stories told to the young by the old, from one
generation to another.
The component of intangible heritage in the conservation of nature was
introduced for two reasons. First, it was realized that this form of intangible heritage was
under threat of extinction through cultural, economic and technological globalization. In
realizing that the museum is an institution for the preservation of intangible heritage too,
the department took the initiative to introduce this component in the exhibitions. Second,
the theme of the Natural History gallery is “Conservation Of Our Environment.” Hence
the inclusion of the role played by intangible heritage in the conservation of nature is in
line with the theme of the gallery.
Intangible Heritage Exhibitions
The intangible heritage exhibitions in the Natural History
gallery of the museum are presented in both pictorial and text
format. Drawings of various animals and plants have been
mounted. The drawings are each accompanied by captions that
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explain how the particular animal, plant or habitat was conserved through stories told by
the older members of a particular community.
Among the drawings exhibited, there is a drawing of Victoria Falls, a world
heritage site, and the vegetation around it. Many people would not go near the falls
because they believed there was a river god (Nyami-Nyami) who lived there in form of a
very big snake. People were afraid to go near the falls for fear of an encounter with the
big snake. In this way, man preserved the falls and its rich biodiversity from exploitation.
Fig 1. Drawing of Victoria Falls and its vegetation
Fig 2. Drawing of an elephant and its components.
Another interesting drawing is that of an elephant drawn with
many “unpleasant animals” like chameleons and snakes embedded in
it. It was believed that the elephant was made up of many animals
such as chameleons, snakes, frogs, cats, owls and lizards. Therefore,
if one killed an elephant for meat, he/she would find herself biting
into a snake or a lizard. The elephant in some traditions was regarded
as a special animal and sometimes associated with royalty, and it
would only be killed if the chief instructed. This discouraged
villagers from killing elephants, and they were conserved in this way.
The intangible heritage conservation of nature exhibitions supplement existing
conservation exhibitions that explain the importance of conservation and the effects of
destroying nature. The modern methods and knowledge of conservation are what are
mostly emphasized in our societies today and they are taught in schools. Very little is said
about how our ancestors preserved nature. At Livingstone Museum, through the Natural
History department, we thought it wise to bring out this aspect of the conservation of
nature by our forefathers through stories told from one generation to another. Intangible
heritage conservation of nature exhibits in the gallery represent traditional methods of the
conservation of nature.
Discussion
There is still a great need to promote the use of intangible heritage knowledge in the
conservation of nature. The proportion of the museum exhibiting this important aspect of
the roles played by intangible heritage is very small. From the scientific point of view,
the roles played by traditional conservation methods are as important as those employed
by modern scientists today. Hence it is imperative for African museums to bring out these
traditional methods and teach the public through the mounting of exhibitions,
publications or any other means deemed fit for transmission of this vital knowledge.
There has been a growing perception that intangible heritage only concerns
cultural heritage and not natural heritage as well. We hope people will realize from the
exhibition put up at Livingstone museum that intangible heritage also encompasses
natural history. Through this exhibition, the museum fulfils article 14 of the Convention
of the Safe Guarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage by educating the general public
about the traditional methods used to conserve nature. Intangible heritage has played an
invaluable role in the conservation of nature.
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It is the onus of museum natural history professionals to promote the preservation
of this important aspect of intangible heritage. Managements of museums should also
give support to the professionals to carry out research in traditional methods of the
conservation of nature. With the advent of globalization, this knowledge is slowly fading
away and therefore it is imperative that we document it.
There are numerous ways in which nature was conserved and some methods are
still being used today. For instance, when collecting tree barks for medicinal uses, people
are encouraged to get pieces from many trees of the same species than from one tree. It is
believed that this will encourage the speedy recovery of the sick relative. On the other
hand it is believed that if one collected all the bark from one plant and it died, then the
sick relative would not heal quickly and perhaps also die. This belief ensures the
sustainable use of plants for medicinal use. It gives chance for plants to recover from
injury and be healthy again. Such traditional knowledge needs to be documented and kept
for posterity to learn from it.
Conclusion
Before the modern concepts of conservation of nature came into being, intangible
heritage played an important role in the preservation of nature. Therefore its impact on
nature conservation cannot be ignored or over emphasized. Actually, without the use of
these valuable stories passed on from generation to generation by our ancestors, we
would not have found much of the wildlife we see and whose aesthetic value we enjoy
today.
It is therefore important that all stakeholders get involved in the promotion and
preservation of the roles played by intangible heritage in the preservation of our
environment.
References
Howard,P. Heritage: Management, Interpretation, Identity. Continuum, London
Istanbul Declaration 2002. Unesco’s Third Round Table of Ministers of Culture:
‘Intangible Cultural Heritage- A mirror of Cultural Diversity: Report from Instanbul’
(http://www.culturelink.org/review/38/cl38un.html)
Kreps, C.F (2003). Liberating Culture: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Museums,
Curation and Heritage Preservation. Routledge, Newyork.
UNESCO2003e. Consolidated Preliminary Draft Convention for the Safeguarding of
the Intangible Heritage
(http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001302/13028e.pdf)
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