Nairobi: UNESCO Gathers all 54 African Countries to Protect the Continent’s Cultural Heritage

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Following African World Heritage Day (5 May), UNESCO is organizing a conference which will adopt a blueprint for the protection of cultural heritage on the continent in the years ahead. It will take stock of UNESCO’s achievements under Audrey Azoulay’s mandate in ensuring greater recognition and protection of Africa’s cultural heritage and consider how to further strengthen these efforts.

  • What? International Conference on Cultural Heritage in Africa
  • When? 6-9 May 2025
  • Where? United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), Kenya
  • Press accreditation here

UNESCO, the government of Kenya and the African World Heritage Fund are organizing a conference gathering all 54 African countries which will culminate in the adoption of the Nairobi Recommendation to guide future efforts to promote and protect heritage in Africa.

It will bring together public decision-makers, academics, researchers, representatives of communities, NGOs and civil society from all countries of the continent. This meeting will also be an opportunity to showcase UNESCO’s support to African Member States in the recent years.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTSIncreasing the representation of African sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Fewer than 10% of the sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List are located in Africa. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has made the recognition and protection of African heritage a top priority. Since 2018, 16 new sites have been inscribed on the continent including 15 in the Sub-Saharan region.

UNESCO supports the continent’s States Parties in training local experts, improving heritage legislation and regulation, and preparing nomination applications for new properties to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. Among the 11 African States Parties still not represented on the List, 10 have received targeted support to prepare their first nominations and 9 are expected to submit their first nomination by 2027.

Removing African sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger
African heritage is overrepresented on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Through the joint mobilization of local experts, national authorities and UNESCO, several World Heritage sites in Africa which were in Danger have had success stories serving as examples for the world. 

UNESCO is also implementing a range of initiatives across Africa to strengthen heritage protection, promote inclusive cultural participation, and support community-led development.

Provisional Programme

  • Monday, 5 May 2025: African World Heritage Day: International conference on Cultural Heritage in Africa. Arrival and Accreditation of participants at the UN Office in Nairobi (UNON)
  • Tuesday, 6 May 2025: Conference officially starts. Opening Ceremony with addresses by UNESCO, African World Heritage Fund, African Unit, and the Government of Kenya
  • Wednesday, 7 May 2025: The Conference will pay special focus on African Traditions and Community Perspectives, Exploring indigenous knowledge, traditional practices, ecological approaches studies from Mali, Benin, Mozambique, Zambia/Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya
  • Thursday, 8 May 2025: Drafting conference outcomes & Nairobi Recommendation
  • Friday, 9 May 2025: Adoption of Nairobi Recommendation
 
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