Lecture

SG - Slavery Heritage Tourism - Places of Remembrance and Spaces of Dialogue

Which narratives emerge when shared slavery-related historical sites are transformed into heritage tourism places? And how can such transformations stimulate plural public memories, engagement and dialogue that challenge established narratives about the past, racial identities and belonging?

Organised by Studium Generale
Date

Tue 8 December 2020 20:00

Venue Impulse, building number 115
Stippeneng 2
115
6708 WE Wageningen
+31 (0) 317 - 482828

About Slavery Heritage Tourism - Places of Remembrance and Spaces of Dialogue

In our increasingly diverse society, the stories we tell about the past can bring us together or pull us apart. In the Netherlands, people of African descent embody a given past. Yet, the stories of slavery, colonialization and racism are often absent because they are considered as potentially contentious. How can tourism practices and performances transform and narrate the past of slavery, raising awareness of slavery heritage? Which narratives emerge when shared slavery-related historical sites are transformed into heritage tourism places? And how can such transformations stimulate plural public memories, engagement and dialogue that challenge established narratives about the past, racial identities and belonging? In this lecture, Dr. Adu-Ampong will highlight tourism’s transformative role in generating new stories of remembrance and spaces of dialogue in tackling present challenges such as polarisation, racism and discrimination. 

About Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong

Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong
Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong

Dr. Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong is an Assistant Professor in the Cultural Geography group (WUR). He works at the intersection of cultural geography, tourism studies, cultural heritage studies and international development studies. He was recently awarded the Dutch National Research Council (NWO) Veni grant for a project titled: The Embodied Absence of the Past: Slavery, Heritage and Tourism in the Ghana-Suriname-Netherlands Triangle. He earned a PhD in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of Sheffield, UK after completing three MSc studies from King’s College London, UK, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands and Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals, Spain. Prior to coming to Wageningen University & Research, he taught at the University of Lincoln and Sheffield Hallam University both in the UK. He is co-author of the recently published books, ‘Routledge Handbook of Tourism in Africa’ (Routledge) and ‘Sustainable Tourism Policy and Planning in Africa’ (Routledge).

About series Racism

This is an Open Mind Lab series, designed and realized together with a group of students.