Performing Sustainability in West Africa

This book discusses the role of cultural practices and policy for sustainable development in West Africa across different artistic disciplines, including performance, video, theatre, community arts and cultural heritage. Based on ethnographic field research in local communities, the book presents findings on current debates of cultural sustainability in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Benin. It provides a unique perspective connecting cultural studies, conflict studies and practical peacebuilding approaches through the arts. The first part pays particular attention to aspects of social cohesion and the circumstances of internally displaced persons e. g. caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria. The second part focuses on cultural policy issues and challenges in the context of sustainable development, investigating participatory approaches and bottom-up processes, the role of governments and civil society, as well as performing arts organizations and universities in policy making and implementation processes. Performing Sustainability in West Africa presents research results and new methods on the role of artistic and cultural practices in conflict situations as well as current debates in cultural policy for researchers, academics, NGOs and students in cultural studies, sustainable development studies and African studies. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003261025, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Meike Lettau holds a Junior Professorship in Cultural and Media Policy Studies at Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Germany. Previously, she was academic associate at the Department of Cultural Policy at the University of Hildesheim, Germany, and coordinator of the Graduate School 'Performing Sustainability: Cultures and Development in West Africa' which is implemented in cooperation with the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, and the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Christopher Yusufu Mtaku has been employed at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, since 1989, and is currently an Associate Professor and the Head of the Department of Fine Arts. Eric Debrah Otchere teaches at, and is the Chair of the Department of Music and Dance, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

1. Cultural Practices and Policies for Sustainable Development: Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Research Culture in Conflict Situations in West Africa PART 1: Cultural Practices and Sustainable Development 2. Performing Healing, Sustaining Culture: Experiences of Managing Collective Trauma Amongst Displaced Persons in the Daudu Community, Nigeria 3. Visual Representations as a Tool for Peace Education and Peace Promotion Towards Sustainable Development: A Case of Dalori Camp, Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria 4. Community Participation and Cultural Sustainability in Nkwen and Bamendankwe, Cameroon: A 'Video for Development' Approach 5. Gender Equity and Sustainable Development: A 'Film for Development' Approach among the Kom of Northwest Cameroon 6. Designing with Waste: A New Paradigm for Set Design in Theatre Productions in Ghana 7. The Effects of Displacement on Kanuri Cultural Practices of Internally Displaced Persons of Borno State, Nigeria PART 2: Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development 8. Cultural Policy Evaluation Towards a Sustainable Arts and Cultural Sector in Ghana 9. Connecting Knowledge and Practice for Sustainable Development: A Case of the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana 10. Inputs Towards a Coherent Cultural Policy in Benin Based on an Analysis of Historical Developments 11. Repatriation and Recirculation: A Case for Sustainable Practice in Administering Nigerian Antiquities