Independent Museums and Culture Centres in Colonial and Post-colonial Zimbabwe: Non-State Players, Local Communities, and Self-Representation

Independent Museums and Culture Centres in Colonial and Post-colonial Zimbabwe focuses on privately-run cultural institutions and highlights that there has, until now, been scant scholarly information about their existence and practice. Arguing that the recent resurgence of such museums, which are not usually obliged to endorse official narratives of the central government, points to some desire to decolonise and indigenise museums, the contributors explore approaches that have been used to reconfigure such colonially inherited institutions to suit the postcolonial terrain. The volume also explores how privately-owned museums can tap into or contribute to current conversations on decoloniality that encourage reflexivity, inclusivity, de-patriarchy, multivocality, community participation and agency. Exploring the motives and purpose of such institutions, the book argues that they are being utilised to confront deeply entrenched stigmatisation and marginalisation.

This book demonstrates that postcolonial African museums have become an arena for negotiating history, legacies, and identities. The book will be of interest to academics and students around the world who are engaged in the study of museums and heritage, African studies, history and culture. It will also appeal to museum practitioners working across Africa and beyond.