Abstract

Across the African continent, there is an ongoing discussion concerning the uncertain future of transhumant pastoralist communities, both in the face of urban/industrial development, evolving social and economic practices, changes in land tenure and use, and climate change events. The case of transhumant communities in Southwestern Angola (e.g. Kuvale) is no different. In recent years, after a decade of extreme drought cycle in the region, their livelihoods, practices and traditions are under serious threat. The growing lack of accessible water holes or available pastures, added to the increasing pressure on the land due to agro-industrial projects, has encumbered, interrupted, or divested traditional transhumant routes. This has led to increased food insecurity, inter-ethnic conflicts and migration. The lack of knowledge concerning the practice of local transhumance becomes a problem when it comes to the preservation of their traditional livelihoods and material practices. The project maps traditional transhumance routes used by local pastoralist communities in Southwestern Angola, to document and testify to their traditional mobility routes and associated material practices. Our goal is to produce a set of materials for repository in the British Museum, for public consultation and reuse, to clarify the impact of ongoing political-economic processes and equip locally based scientists with advanced tools for monitoring.

Team