Sociological Myths and Heritage Sites: An Innovative Cultural Construct of Banana Island, Western Rural, Sierra Leone

Abstract:

This sociological article reviews the function of myths in influencing the cultural and ecological significance of Banana Island, a natural heritage site in Sierra Leone’s Western Rural Area. Identifying that natural tourism destinations repeatedly establish remarkable cultural identities through myth, this research adopts qualitative methods, involving in-depth interviews with cultural community partners, tourists and specialists, and tour directors, to examine the function of myths in destination oversight. Findings reveal that these myths function as cultural instruments, improving behavioral norms and ecological conservation through regulations and customary beliefs. The research suggests techniques to conserve these heritage sites, foster cultural values, and entrust indigenous custodians, assisting sustainable site oversight and reinforcing the site’s cultural and environmental social ethics.