Repositioning the Understanding of Heritage Authenticity and Integrity in the African Context: The Case of the Barotse Plains Cultural Landscape in Zambia

Heritage authenticity and integrity are foundational to the preservation of cultural landscapes; however, their prevailing conceptualisations are deeply rooted in Eurocentric paradigms that inadequately reflect African epistemologies and lived realities. This chapter critically repositions these constructs within an African framework, drawing on the Barotse Plains Cultural Landscape (BPCL) of Zambia, a dynamic socio-ecological system shaped by the Lozi people’s enduring traditions, transhumance, and spiritual governance. Despite comprehensive documentation and nomination efforts, the BPCL remains in referral status due to its perceived divergence from conventional heritage criteria, particularly in the interpretation of modern materials and adaptive practices. Such elements, like the use of concrete or corrugated iron in royal architecture, are often misread as degradation rather than expressions of resilience and continuity. This chapter challenges these interpretations by advancing a methodological approach rooted in African ontologies, where authenticity is evidenced through functional continuity, ritual efficacy, and communal legitimacy rather than material fixity. In doing so, it advocates for context-sensitive heritage assessments and African-centred frameworks that recognize adaptation as a form of cultural endurance and reframe integrity through the lens of indigenous knowledge and practice.