1st Edition

Navigating Polyvocal Heritage in a Postcolonial Cultural Landscape Banda Islands, Indonesia

By Joëlla van Donkersgoed Copyright 2026
250 Pages 22 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

250 Pages 22 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book explores the complex histories and heritage of the Banda Islands in Indonesia. By interweaving oral traditions with colonial and archaeological records, it examines polyvocality in heritage interpretation and the central role of communities in shaping their cultural landscapes. The book provides a polyvocal approach to heritage studies, blending historical narratives, cultural... Read more

Part 1: Histories of Banda 1. Cultural Roots in Religion, Travel and Trade 2. Dutch Occupation (1609 - 1939) 3. Revolution and Rebuilding (1939-Present) Part 2: Cultural Landscape of Banda 4. Development of the Cultural Landscape Approach 5. Banda Islands Within a National Context 6. Heritage and Tourism Practices in the Banda Islands Part 3: Fort Nassau on Banda Neira 7. Life-Cycle of Fort Nassau 8. Fort Nassau and Its Ties to Landscape 9. Restoration and Meaning-Making at Fort Nassau

Biography

Joëlla van Donkersgoed is a postdoctoral researcher at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH). In her research and work activities she aims to centralize the perspective of the local community and provide local (diverse) voices a platform to speak, participate, and be empowered. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, USA (2020), as well as Bachelor's and Master's degrees with specializations in public archaeology and archaeological heritage management from Leiden University, the Netherlands (2012/2014).