•WELCOME•
The UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites in Africa are some of the most spectacular places on earth. The importance of preserving and promoting this cultural heritage escalates with each passing year. It is vital to raise awareness of this rich heritage while informing people of its value and gaining support for the conservation and development of these sites. We invite you to visit our website and learn more about the work of the African World Heritage Fund.
The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an inter-governmental organisation that was launched in 2006 with the mission to support the effective conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage of outstanding universal value in Africa. Together with the African Members States of UNESCO and the African Union, the main aim is to develop a strategy to deal with the challenges that many African countries meet in implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
25 September 2018
Condolences on the passing of Honourable Minister Edna Molewa
It is with deep sadness that the Board of Trustees, Patrons and staff of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) learnt of the passing of Honourable Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa and Member of Parliament.
Honourable Molewa has contributed immensely to assisting the Fund on its efforts with the protection and promotion of African heritage both in South Africa and across the continent. During her tenure as the Minister of Environmental Affairs, she demonstrated a strong commitment to the growth and development goals of the work of AWHF.
Honourable Edna Molewa will be greatly missed by all of us. But we will continue to be inspired by her unwavering commitment to the cause of protecting and safeguarding Africa’s heritage. Her contribution in environment awareness and action will be remembered nationally and globally. It is our hope that each day, the work of the African World Heritage Fund, in its mission to provide support and assistance for the conservation and management of World Heritage Sites in Africa, will honour her legacy of service.
As the African World Heritage Fund, we extend our sincere condolences to her family, her friends and colleagues during this time of bereavement.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Souayibou Varissou
AWHF: Acting Executive Director
National Heritage Day
Join AWHF in collaboration with NLSA at the National Library of South Africa in Pretoria on Friday, 21 September 2018 for a Heritage Awareness Activation in celebration of the South African annual Heritage Day on 24th September. BE THE LEGACY!
AWHF ATTENDS THE 5TH PAN AFRICAN CULTURAL CONGRESS (PACC5) IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
The Pan African Cultural Congress was held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia from the 5th to 7th September 2018. The theme was “Advancing the Africa Union Agenda 2063 through Culture and the African Creative Economy”. The congress was attended by the State Minister of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia Honorable Mrs. Bezunesh Meseret. AWHF presented on the outcome of the youth forums held in South Africa (2016), Burkina Faso (2017) and Mozambique (2018). The Presentation focused on youth involvement in the heritage sector in Africa and capacity building. The Fund was requested to assist in the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063.
The African Union 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio economic transformation of the continent over the next fifty years. Aspiration 5 speaks to the objective of PACC5, which is to have an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics.
AWHF’S WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION TRAINING IN KIGALI, RWANDA
The opening of the AWHF’s World Heritage Nomination Training Course in Kigali, Rwanda took place on 10 september 2018. Sixteen (16) participants from nine (9) French and Portugese speaking African countries who were involved are: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger and Rwanda.
