Celebration of the International Day of Monuments and Sites in Africa
Since its inception in 1982 by ICOMOS and its adoption the same year by the UNESCO General Conference, the International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS) has taken place every year on April 18. Celebrated throughout the world, this day represents an opportunity to promote and celebrate the importance of cultural heritage.
The theme of this year’s event (2024) was “Disasters and conflicts through the lens of the Venice Charter”. Africa was no exception. ICOMOS is pleased to highlight four activities that took place on the continent on this occasion.
In Burkina Faso, 70 participants took part in a tourist excursion organized by the National Committee. This activity enabled participants to discover or rediscover the granite sculpture sites of Laongo, and to discover the architecture of the Manega Museum, inspired by Kasena architecture, whose emblem is the Royal Court of Tiébélé, inscribed on the Tentative List of Burkina Faso. Participants also exchanged views with Ms. Mastine Ouedraogo, Living Human Treasure and specialist in local gastronomy in Burkina Faso. The participants expressed their satisfaction and urged the National Committee to repeat this type of activity in other regions of Burkina Faso.
In Cameroon, the day was marked by the National Committee’sorganization of an information and awareness day on April 24 at the Department of Arts and Archaeology of the University of Yaoundé I, followed by a virtual round table on the theme ‘Disasters & Conflicts Through the Lens of the Venice Charter’ on April 27. The aim was both to inform and raise awareness among students of the benefits of joining ICOMOS, and to bring together professionals working to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage from a variety of backgrounds around the theme of the day. The round table, moderated by Alice Biada, in charge of implementing the activities of the Cameroon ICOMOS National Committee, featured the following panellists: Edmond Moukala, Former Head of the Africa Unit at the World Heritage Centre and Head of the Accra Office and UNESCO Representative in Ghana; Paule-Clisthène Dassi Koudjou, Heritage Curator and Head of Museum Conservation for the Chieftaincy Route Programme network in Cameroon; Marie Thierry Edjoa épse Ndjell, Director of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Arts and Culture, Cameroon; and Mohamed Alhasan Abambacho, Archaeologist and co-founder of the Imane-atarikh (life of heritage) association, Niger.
In Mali, the National Committee celebrated IDMS with a conference-debate on the theme ‘Disasters & Conflicts Through the Lens of the Venice Charter’, held in the Amphitheatre of the École Nationale d’Ingénieurs (ENI – ABT) in Bamako. Moderated by Boubacar H. Diaby, Secretary of ICOMOS Mali, the conference gave the floor to Lassana Cissé and Abdel Kader Fofana, respectively President and Vice-President of ICOMOS Mali; Aboubacar Diaby, Advisor to the Prime Minister; and Pr Diallo Kadia Maiga, Secretary General of the Malian National Commission for UNESCO. The discussion focused on Mali’s heritage, which is currently suffering as a result of armed conflicts and natural disasters, and urged the political authorities to work towards its preservation.
Lastly, in Senegal, the ICOMOS Emerging Professionals Working Group for the Africa region (ICOMOS EPWG Africa) organized, together with the Senegalese Order of Architects, a round table on the theme “The role of architects in the preservation of historic sites and monuments in Dakar”. The event, held at the headquarters of the Order of Architects, was moderated by Alyssa K. Barry, coordinator of ICOMOS EPWG Africa, with panelists : Carole Diop, Architect and Advisor in charge of Research and Heritage at the Ordre des Architectes; Annie Jouga, Architect; Alphousseyni Sow, Head of the Bureau d’Architecture et des Monuments Historiques (BAMH); and Latyr Niang, Director of Major Works at the Agence Nationale chargé de la Promotion de l’Investissement et des Grands Travaux (APIX). The discussions provided an opportunity to raise public awareness of Senegal’s cultural heritage through the monuments and listed sites of Dakar, as well as to promote the Ordre des Architectes du Sénégal and its actions in favor of the country’s cultural heritage. They were followed by an architectural walk through the Plateau district led by Carole Diop.