The Politics of Heritage Management in Mali

Joy, an anthropologist, profiles life in Djenne, a mudbrick town in Mali that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each year, the impoverished town hosts a brief flood of tourists due to its heritage site status, but the town's status also places restrictions on its growth and day-to-day activities. This book discusses the realities of world heritage status and the unofficial role of UNESCO as a development organization (or perhaps an anti-development organization) through its site-labeling activities. The first part of the book concerns the creation of Djenne as a place conjured by the West, with special focus on its mudbrick architecture. The second part of the book looks at Islam in Djenne and the work of the town's artisans and guides, and describes the town's first cultural festival, held in 2005. B&w photos are included. Joy holds a PhD in anthropology from University College London. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)