The Department of Anthropology’s Dr Pascall Taruvinga has been appointed as the second fellow at the Sejong International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites (WHIPIC), a UNESCO Category 2 Centre in the Republic of Korea.
As part of this prestigious fellowship, Dr Taruvinga will be collaborating with Sejong-WHIPIC’s stakeholders to further enrich discussions on World Heritage from a uniquely African perspective. An established heritage expert, Dr Taruvinga will be focusing on advancing the interpretation and presentation of World Heritage sites globally.
Dr Taruvinga’s fellowship, the first in 2024, is centred on capacity-building efforts in heritage interpretation and presentation for the African region. Reflecting on his role, he shared, “My fellowship is focusing on building capacity on interpretation and presentation in the Africa region… I'm the chief editor of a book on the interpretation and presentation of World Heritage from the Africa region, which will be released in December or January [2025]”.
Dr Taruvinga first became connected with WHIPIC through a lecture series in 2020, and he has since contributed to several of its publications. Now, with his ongoing research and active collaboration in the regional UNESCO events, this fellowship represents a valuable opportunity to deepen the understanding of heritage regionally and globally.
Throughout his fellowship, Dr Taruvinga will lead the development of this key resource, which will serve as a guide for World Heritage site managers across Africa. He will also contribute to the review of international guidelines on interpretation and presentation, and offer insights into improving the management of African heritage sites. His work will also include engaging local universities, where he will share African perspectives on the management and presentation of heritage, as well as addressing broader challenges such as climate change in Africa.
This fellowship exemplifies the vital role that African scholars have to play as key stakeholders in the global heritage landscape. As we celebrate Heritage Month, we are also reminded that of the importance of safeguarding diverse cultural legacies while shaping a more inclusive future for global heritage stewardship.