The intricacy of intangible cultural heritage: some perspectives on Ndebele earthen architecture

Intangible heritage has become a discourse both in the institutionalised heritage domain and in the academic world. This article dismantles the concept, deconstructs existing mythologies, and illuminates some of the core issues which have given rise to the current intricacies and dissonance. By using examples from Ndebele earthen architecture, such as the role of memory in the history of house form, spatial orientation in settlement, the role of gender in space and the intangibility of mural art, it is possible to gain insight into the web that weaves tangible and intangible heritage into a cohesive concept.