{"product_id":"timbuktu-unbound-islamic-texts-textual-traditions-and-heritage-in-west-africa-9783031348235","title":"Timbuktu Unbound: Islamic Texts, Textual Traditions and Heritage in West Africa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eTimbuktu Unbound explores the social value of texts, personal libraries, social practices, hierarchies, and quasi-market forces in Muslim West African cultural heritage, highlighting the recent destruction and salvage operations to protect the Timbuktu manuscript libraries. It seeks to examine the nuanced activities of diverse actors engaged in the study, preservation, acquisition, movement, and destruction of these materials. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 161 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 07 August 2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Springer International Publishing AG\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTimbuktu Unbound: Islamic Texts, Textual Traditions, and Heritage in West Africa is a groundbreaking collection that offers a fresh perspective on manuscripts in Muslim West Africa. The contributors shed light on the dynamic ways in which textuality manifests through technological innovations, ongoing habituated practices, and the influence of power and authority within these communities on these texts and their roles. This book explores a range of interconnected themes, including:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe social value of texts as objects.\u003cbr\u003ePersonal libraries as forms of investment and legacy.\u003cbr\u003eSocial practices involved in the exchange, movement, and gifting of specific types of manuscripts.\u003cbr\u003eHierarchies and evaluative treatments of manuscripts.\u003cbr\u003eQuasi-market forces at play in the preservation and circulation of manuscripts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe recent destruction and subsequent salvage operations to protect the Timbuktu manuscript libraries have brought to the forefront their status as the quintessential exemplar of manuscript heritage in newly historicized Africa. However, these events also underscore the prevailing narrative about Muslim West African cultural heritage, embodied in the form of manuscripts, archives, and documents, as being under severe and existential threat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis volume aims to depart from the dominant salvific starting point of heritage discourse, which posits that such objects possess intrinsic value that must be preserved. Instead, it seeks to examine the more nuanced activities of diverse actors engaged in the study, preservation, acquisition, movement, and, in some cases, destruction and disposal of the wide array of materials that constitute the textual heritage of these societies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe contributors to Timbuktu Unbound come from various fields, including history, literature, religious studies, and cultural anthropology. They employ a multidisciplinary approach to explore the complex relationships between textuality, power, and heritage in West Africa. Through their insightful analyses, they challenge the notion of cultural heritage as static and unchanging and highlight the ways in which it is shaped by the dynamic interactions between diverse actors and their environments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the key themes explored in the book is the social value of texts as objects. The contributors argue that manuscripts hold significant social value not only for their historical and cultural significance but also for their practical uses. They discuss how manuscripts are used in religious practices, education, storytelling, and community governance. They also explore the role of personal libraries as forms of investment and legacy, as individuals and families collect and preserve manuscripts for future generations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnother theme is the personal and communal experiences associated with the exchange, movement, and gifting of manuscripts. The contributors highlight the social practices and rituals that surround these activities, which serve as means of maintaining social connections, preserving cultural heritage, and asserting identity and authority. They also examine the hierarchies and evaluative treatments of manuscripts within communities, as certain types of manuscripts are considered more valuable or prestigious than others.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book also explores the role of quasi-market forces in the preservation and circulation of manuscripts. The contributors note that the demand for manuscripts has led to the emergence of a market for rare and valuable texts, which has in turn influenced the preservation and acquisition practices of collectors and institutions. They also discuss the challenges posed by the digital age, as digital technologies offer new opportunities for the study, preservation, and dissemination of manuscripts but also pose threats to their physical integrity and accessibility.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, Timbuktu Unbound: Islamic Texts, Textual Traditions, and Heritage in West Africa is a vital contribution to the study of cultural heritage in the region. It offers a fresh perspective on the role of textuality, power, and heritage in West African societies and challenges the dominant narratives about their cultural heritage. Through its multidisciplinary approach and insightful analyses, the book provides valuable insights into the complex processes that shape the textual heritage of these societies and its significance in their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 360g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 210 x 148 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9783031348235\u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEdition number\u003c\/strong\u003e: 1st ed. 2023\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shulph Ink","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44572906324218,"sku":"9783031348235","price":34.15,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1694797556403_book.jpg?v=1695056270","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/timbuktu-unbound-islamic-texts-textual-traditions-and-heritage-in-west-africa-9783031348235","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}