Article
Crises are affecting cultural heritage in Cameroon
In December 2020, UNESCO supported the Ministry of Arts and Culture, local stakeholders and communities to carry out rapid assessments in the Bafut Royal Palace and the museums of Mankon, Babungo and Lifafa, in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. The objectives were to facilitate the mapping of cultural assets that are damaged and identify and implement priority measures to prevent further loss of cultural heritage.
The exercise revealed visible cracks and leaks on the buildings, the sanctuaries of the Bafut Royal Palace were desecrated and some museums were hit by bullets. Museum buildings and some collections were destroyed by human action and natural factors, looting was recorded and some documents of the library museum were destroyed. The exercise proved that there was a growing risk of loss of heritage values in the museums and on the site of the Royal Bafut Palace. The results of the assessments will help to define the required levels of intervention.
The crises in these regions, as well as in the Far North region, also put at risk the cultural expressions. Many communities are displaced or can no longer gather. These conflicts have had a significant impact on the intangible cultural heritage expressions and on the viability and transmission of practices and know-how of living heritage, essential to maintaining cultural diversity, social cohesion, and dialogue between communities.
The assessments were supported by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, a multi-donor mechanism funded by the Qatar Fund for Development, the Kingdom of Norway, the Government of Canada, ANA Holdings INC., the Principality of Monaco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Estonia, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Slovak Republic, the Principality of Andorra and the Republic of Serbia.
The exercise revealed visible cracks and leaks on the buildings, the sanctuaries of the Bafut Royal Palace were desecrated and some museums were hit by bullets. Museum buildings and some collections were destroyed by human action and natural factors, looting was recorded and some documents of the library museum were destroyed. The exercise proved that there was a growing risk of loss of heritage values in the museums and on the site of the Royal Bafut Palace. The results of the assessments will help to define the required levels of intervention.
The crises in these regions, as well as in the Far North region, also put at risk the cultural expressions. Many communities are displaced or can no longer gather. These conflicts have had a significant impact on the intangible cultural heritage expressions and on the viability and transmission of practices and know-how of living heritage, essential to maintaining cultural diversity, social cohesion, and dialogue between communities.
The assessments were supported by the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, a multi-donor mechanism funded by the Qatar Fund for Development, the Kingdom of Norway, the Government of Canada, ANA Holdings INC., the Principality of Monaco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Estonia, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Slovak Republic, the Principality of Andorra and the Republic of Serbia.
11 March 2021
Last update:20 April 2023
© UNESCO
