Issues of heritage in post-colonial lusophone world
Discuss the issues of heritage and culture in the Lusophone post-colonial world, referring to at least two of the following: Cape Verde, Goa, Macau, East Timor.
Within the Lusophone post-colonial world the Portuguese have left their mark on both heritage and culture, be it significant or unsubstantial. The manner in which Portugal went about imposing its culture on the indigenous populations of the places it colonised, had mostly negative consequences and more often than not strangled native cultures. The most prominent aspect of heritage that the Portuguese tried to introduce into their colonies was religion, and they did so mercilessly and aggressively. Many aspects of post-colonial heritage (music, art, architecture, language) would be somehow linked to the influence of the Church. This influence would be found in the Church’s role in many forms of education, the miscegenation and marriage of Portuguese men with local women, the destruction of many buildings concerning indigenous religions and the construction of churches to replace them. Of course other important influences would shape the post-colonial cultures and allow certain aspects of more western life to be incorporated into their own. The influence of Portuguese colonies on each other will also be a determining factor when discussing this topic. Despite the largely negative nature of Portuguese intervention in their colonies there are arguably some positives to be taken from their reign over certain places. It is the subjects of religion, and the somewhat positive results coming from Portuguese reign that I intend to discuss. This is not to say that I support the manner in which these benefits were realised but merely to appreciate their post-colonial nature.
Firstly, the most prominent aspect when evaluating heritage in the Lusophone post-colonial world is religion. In every region they claimed as their colony, the Portuguese encouraged, and usually enforced, the conversion to Christianity
Within the Lusophone post-colonial world the Portuguese have left their mark on both heritage and culture, be it significant or unsubstantial. The manner in which Portugal went about imposing its culture on the indigenous populations of the places it colonised, had mostly negative consequences and more often than not strangled native cultures. The most prominent aspect of heritage that the Portuguese tried to introduce into their colonies was religion, and they did so mercilessly and aggressively. Many aspects of post-colonial heritage (music, art, architecture, language) would be somehow linked to the influence of the Church. This influence would be found in the Church’s role in many forms of education, the miscegenation and marriage of Portuguese men with local women, the destruction of many buildings concerning indigenous religions and the construction of churches to replace them. Of course other important influences would shape the post-colonial cultures and allow certain aspects of more western life to be incorporated into their own. The influence of Portuguese colonies on each other will also be a determining factor when discussing this topic. Despite the largely negative nature of Portuguese intervention in their colonies there are arguably some positives to be taken from their reign over certain places. It is the subjects of religion, and the somewhat positive results coming from Portuguese reign that I intend to discuss. This is not to say that I support the manner in which these benefits were realised but merely to appreciate their post-colonial nature.
Firstly, the most prominent aspect when evaluating heritage in the Lusophone post-colonial world is religion. In every region they claimed as their colony, the Portuguese encouraged, and usually enforced, the conversion to Christianity
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