Authors :
Blessing Muchenje; Shepherd Nyaruwata; Gilbert Pwiti; Alick Mhizha
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/3k8yb3ry
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8262741
Abstract :
The aim of this article is to present the results
of a study on how African Intangible Cultural Heritage
(ICH) can influence people’s way of life and be a form of
tourism from the perspective of local and foreign visitors
using a case study of Korekore Cultural Village in
Makonde district, Mashonaland West province in
Zimbabwe. Intangible Cultural Heritage represents
people’s living traditions that are formed, owned and
practiced by the local communities as an identity symbol
to distinguish themselves from other cultures. This
study used, a qualitative research design for the
collection of empirical data from the target population.
In-depth interviews and a focus group discussion with
members of the surrounding communities,
ethnographers, historians and other stakeholders were
carried out following the framework of research
objectives and questions. Five ICH domains were
adopted for the study, namely, oral traditions and
expressions, social practices, rituals and festive events,
performing arts, traditional craftsmanship and
knowledge and practices concerning nature and the
universe. The findings include the documentation of local
communities’ narratives of intangible cultural aspects
that mould a society’s behaviour and way of living for
the Korekore people in Makonde district. Furthermore,
it was also found that there are already existing cultural
villages in Zimbabwe that are benefiting from cultural
tourism hence the same applies to the upcoming
Korekore Cultural village. It was concluded that,
intangible cultural heritage that identifies with societies
can be effectively tapped into worthwhile tourism
business with specialised areas in culinary tourism, arts
and festivals tourism, historic tourism, religious tourism
among others. It is recommended that the private and
public sectors should work closely as partners to
preserve the intangible heritage places for the benefit of
future generations, through instilling cultural values
among the locals and visitors. It is further recommended
that local communities should be fully involved and
effectively participate in community-based tourism in
the area to make cultural tourism viable as the
custodians of cultural attractions assume ownership and
have control of the natural environment and the cultural
values associated with their places.
Keywords :
Cultural Village Tourism, Local Community, Living Heritage, Visitors’ Perception, Tourism Development.
The aim of this article is to present the results
of a study on how African Intangible Cultural Heritage
(ICH) can influence people’s way of life and be a form of
tourism from the perspective of local and foreign visitors
using a case study of Korekore Cultural Village in
Makonde district, Mashonaland West province in
Zimbabwe. Intangible Cultural Heritage represents
people’s living traditions that are formed, owned and
practiced by the local communities as an identity symbol
to distinguish themselves from other cultures. This
study used, a qualitative research design for the
collection of empirical data from the target population.
In-depth interviews and a focus group discussion with
members of the surrounding communities,
ethnographers, historians and other stakeholders were
carried out following the framework of research
objectives and questions. Five ICH domains were
adopted for the study, namely, oral traditions and
expressions, social practices, rituals and festive events,
performing arts, traditional craftsmanship and
knowledge and practices concerning nature and the
universe. The findings include the documentation of local
communities’ narratives of intangible cultural aspects
that mould a society’s behaviour and way of living for
the Korekore people in Makonde district. Furthermore,
it was also found that there are already existing cultural
villages in Zimbabwe that are benefiting from cultural
tourism hence the same applies to the upcoming
Korekore Cultural village. It was concluded that,
intangible cultural heritage that identifies with societies
can be effectively tapped into worthwhile tourism
business with specialised areas in culinary tourism, arts
and festivals tourism, historic tourism, religious tourism
among others. It is recommended that the private and
public sectors should work closely as partners to
preserve the intangible heritage places for the benefit of
future generations, through instilling cultural values
among the locals and visitors. It is further recommended
that local communities should be fully involved and
effectively participate in community-based tourism in
the area to make cultural tourism viable as the
custodians of cultural attractions assume ownership and
have control of the natural environment and the cultural
values associated with their places.
Keywords :
Cultural Village Tourism, Local Community, Living Heritage, Visitors’ Perception, Tourism Development.
