Underwater Cultural heritage encompasses all traces of human existence, that lie or were lying underwater and has a cultural or historic character.
The richness of the worlds Underwater Cultural heritage is often underestimated. While over the last century, archeological sites on land has yielded an abundance of information on the development of civilization, the oceans, which covers the larger part of our planet, still retain any of their secrets. However, they contain a unique testament to the spirits of our ancestors for exploration; and many shipwrecks and ruins of cities lost to the waves are inched better preserved than similar sites found in land. This is why the UNESCO convention for the protection of the underwater Cultural heritage, adopted by the UNESCO general conference in 2001, intends to enable states to better protect their underwater heritage.
UNESCO fosters the preservation, research and protection of this underwater Cultural heritage. Its major tool to do so is the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. This convention is the leading legal instrument guiding underwater archaeology worldwide, it is designed to strengthen legal protection, research, co-operation, awareness-raising and capacity building. Especially important for the African region are its clear prohibition of the commercial exploitation of sites as well as its guidance in the development of underwater archaeology.
The First African regional meeting of the protection of the underwater cultural heritage, organised by the federal ministry of Tourism, Culture and national orientation in collaboration with the United Nations Education,Scientific and Cultural organization(UNESCO) and the Bayelsa state ministry for Culture and Ijaw affairs was Held in the Ijaw House Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The conference which will run through the 10th to 14th November 2013, had in attendance representatives from 16 African nations, Angola, Togo, Guinea, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, Niger, Republic of Congo, Seychelles, Mauritius, Equatorial Guinea,  Namibia, Tanzania, Gambia, Mali, and South Africa. Representatives from UNESCO, Nigeria's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National orientation as well as representatives of the Bayelsa state ministry for Culture and Ijaw affairs where also present.
By Matilda Angaye
Coined from fascinating Nigeria programme
No comments:
Post a Comment