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Retrieving Intangibility to Avert Human-Driven Bio-Diversity Loss: The Case of Thathe Sacred Forest, Phiphidi Waterfalls and Lake Fundudzi, Northern South Africa
Pikirayi, I.; Magoma, M. Retrieving Intangibility, Stemming Biodiversity Loss: The Case of Sacred Places in Venda, Northern South Africa. Heritage2021, 4, 4524-4541.
Pikirayi, I.; Magoma, M. Retrieving Intangibility, Stemming Biodiversity Loss: The Case of Sacred Places in Venda, Northern South Africa. Heritage 2021, 4, 4524-4541.
Pikirayi, I.; Magoma, M. Retrieving Intangibility, Stemming Biodiversity Loss: The Case of Sacred Places in Venda, Northern South Africa. Heritage2021, 4, 4524-4541.
Pikirayi, I.; Magoma, M. Retrieving Intangibility, Stemming Biodiversity Loss: The Case of Sacred Places in Venda, Northern South Africa. Heritage 2021, 4, 4524-4541.
Abstract
Human-driven biodiversity destruction are responsible for significant and sustained heritage losses in Africa. In Venda, northern South Africa, biodiversity losses are eroding the existence of sacred places. Such places define the essence of indigenous people’s identity and well-being. We highlight how developments in Venda such as mining and agricultural expansion since apartheid times have destroyed biodiversity in the broader landscape, undermining efforts to reduce hunger and poverty. Thathe forest, Lake Fundudzi and Phiphidi waterfalls are central to Venda mythology and legends, origins and identity and are key towards conserving current biodiversity and heritage losses.
Keywords
biodiversity loss; Venda; cultural landscape; myths; legends; Thathe forest; Lake Fundudzi; Phiphidi waterfalls
Subject
Arts and Humanities, Humanities
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
