An Investigation into the Relationship Between the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences and the Ethnographic Collections’ Source Communities
- Author
- Manyengavana, Tanaka F
- Title
- An Investigation into the Relationship Between the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences and the Ethnographic Collections’ Source Communities
- Abstract
-
The study examines the connections between museum collections and their communities at
Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences (ZMHS). The objective of the study includes identifying
the communities associated with ZMHS, as well as investigating the perceptions of the public on
museum collections. The researcher used four methods to acquire data and these include
observations, interviews, desktop survey and questionnaires. The major findings of this study
reveals that most of the collections that have connections with communities such as Ngoma
lungundu, Mkwati walking stick, former President Robert Mugabe’s office furniture, the Tonga
doors and zvikwambo (goblins) are ‘imprisoned’ in the museum’s store rooms. This study argues
that ethnographic collections should be made easily accessible to the communities through
interaction, for them to connect with their past. The conclusion of the study is that the museum
needs to engage communities in their programs as well updating the documentation collections
so as to reveal their provenance and significance. There is also need for the museum to make use
of public programs as a way of increasing communities’ appreciation and awareness of the
museum programs and the importance of heritage to their societies. The museum should make
collections available to the communities as a way of enhancing their significance and for them to
know and pass their cultural identity to other generation
- Date
- 2023
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Relationship and the
- Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences
- Ethnographic Collections’ Source Communities
- Supervisor
- Dr Sagiya,M
