Conserving the other’s heritage within Islamic society

This paper aims to tackle dissonant issues involving ownership and inclusivity in the conservation of architectural heritage in Banda Aceh. The paper explores to what extent architectural heritage conservation in Peunayong can reflect inclusivity of the non-Muslim minority Chinese with the majority Islamic Acehnese. In the process, the tensions over ethnic interaction and assimilation through the practices of architectural heritage conservation and everyday life are inextricably teased out. The paper also attempts to build counter-hegemonic views drawn from a consideration of ‘heritage from below’, and to identify how local people understand heritage conservation and cultural assimilation in maintaining everyday heritage. We argue that the negotiation of dissonance in Peunayong heritage narratives is reflected in the ways the Chinese community have historically made efforts to achieve acceptance within their adopted Acehnese cultural context. While for the Acehnese, the negotiation is reflected in their long struggle to reclaim their majority status and economic place in Peunayong, and acknowledgement of Chinese architectural heritage.