The survival of cultural institutions in post-apartheid South Africa: A case of bakoni malapa open air museum

Abstract

Globally, the role played by cultural institutions such as museums cannot be underestimated. The roles of museums as centres of cultural heritage education/ preservation, entertainment, relaxation and research significantly contribute to the development of societies and their cultural heritage identities. However, such roles are lost if museums fail to survive the challenges that threaten their existence. Surprisingly, there has been no communication about the survival strategies of open air museums, specifically on the African continent. This short communication advances understanding on cultural heritage by reporting on the survival strategies employed by Bakoni Malapa Open Air Museum in post-apartheid South Africa.