Performing Sustainability in West Africa: Cultural Practices and Policies for Sustainable Development

This book explores the role of cultural practices and policies in promoting sustainable development in West Africa through various artistic disciplines. It conducts ethnographic field research in local communities and provides insights into cultural sustainability debates in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Benin. The book connects cultural studies, conflict studies, and practical peacebuilding approaches through the arts, highlighting the importance of social cohesion and the circumstances of internally displaced persons. It also examines cultural policy issues and challenges in the context of sustainable development, exploring participatory approaches and bottom-up processes. The book offers valuable research results and methods for researchers, academics, NGOs, and students in cultural studies, sustainable development studies, and African studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 29 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the profound impact of cultural practices and policies on sustainable development across various artistic disciplines in West Africa. Through a rich tapestry of performance, video, theatre, community arts, and cultural heritage, it explores the intricate interplay between culture and sustainability. Drawing upon extensive ethnographic field research in local communities, the book offers insightful findings on the ongoing debates surrounding cultural sustainability in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Benin. It provides a unique perspective by seamlessly integrating cultural studies, conflict studies, and practical peacebuilding approaches through the arts.

The first part of the book pays particular attention to the aspects of social cohesion and the challenges faced by internally displaced persons, such as those caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria. It sheds light on the role of artistic and cultural practices in fostering resilience and rebuilding communities affected by conflict.

The second part delves into the realm of cultural policy, focusing on the issues and challenges inherent in promoting sustainable development. It investigates participatory approaches, bottom-up processes, the roles of governments, civil society, performing arts organizations, and universities in policymaking and implementation. The book explores how the arts can be harnessed as powerful tools for social change and sustainable development.

Performing Sustainability in West Africa presents a wealth of research results and innovative methods that shed light on the role of artistic and cultural practices in conflict situations and in shaping current debates in cultural policy. This invaluable resource is designed for researchers, academics, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and students in cultural studies, sustainable development studies, and African studies.

The Open Access version of this book, accessible at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003261025, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. This license allows for non-commercial use, reproduction, and distribution of the book, provided that the original authors and source are credited.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032198224