Sources indicate that the kingdom of Axum (Aksum) had developed a distinctive architecture exemplified by giant obelisks, the oldest of which date from 5,000 to 2000 BC. The northern stelae field contains more than 120 stelae made of smooth, grey stone. They are each made from single piece of granite and stand as high as 82 feet. The massive ruins include monolithic obelisks, Giant stelae, royal tombs and the ruins of ancient castles.
The obelisks mark the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the kingdom of Axum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. However, these world heritages are said to be under a critical condition since the last two years. Zenebu Halefom, Deputy Bureau Head, Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau told this reporter that the obelisks of Axum have been in danger since the last two years.
It is long time since an underground lake was created beneath the obelisks as the structure made to divert floods during rainy seasons has been out of use in the past two years. According to her, this may result in the falling down of the obelisks unless the flood is redirected to another direction and the water that created a lake beneath is cleared urgently Reflecting on why the concerned organ at all levels did stay silent till the problem reaches to this extent, Zenebu expressed that the government of Tigray State has, honestly, been lagging behind doing what it should have done thinking that UNESCO and the Ethiopian Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritages (EARCCH) would manage it on their own for the obelisks are registered by UNESCO as world heritages. Nevertheless, this does not mean that nothing has been done in this regard so far.
The Bureau has been taking various measures to at least solve the problem temporarily. As to the Deputy Head, it is almost two years since EARCCH told the State of Tigray that it had started movements to manage the problem in this regard. “However, the Authority has recently informed us that it has finalized almost all its preparations. As said by the Authority, it has announced national and international auction bids for consultancy, contractors and others related to this purpose, though we do not still know the exact budget the Authority allocated for that. As to us, these obelisks are, by now in a critical condition that needs urgent solution,” she underscored.
Though they are registered by UNESCO, they are here in Tigray that their direct benefit is in other words for the people they own them, she stated. Having taken this fact into consideration, the Tourism Bureau of the State has started lots of tasks in this regard though a lot still remains to be done as compared to what was expected. Hence, a team drawn from various disciplines is now established to identify problems not only in that of obelisks of Axum but there are also many other heritages under such a critical condition. By now, this team has already finalized its identification process of the critical problem of the Axum obelisks, how it could be solved, and who could be part of the solution, she signified.
As for her, the study would be presented and discussed at the end of January in the presence of stakeholdersthe Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EARCCH thereby take their shares. As learnt from her, the Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau has clearly criticized EARCCH for its being late in terms of giving urgent solution to the problem. Accepting their tardiness, they expressed that they are making efforts to let the Italian company\ contractor which installed the Obelisk brought back home to take part in this task. The obelisks would be endangered unless they are repaired within a maximum of a year, she accentuated. According to Zenebu, it is not only the obelisks of Axum which are under critical conditions but there are also many other heritages which are found in danger that need speedy intervention of the federal government. There are, for instance, more than 120 rock hewn churches in Tigray, which are not yet registered by UNESCO and many of them are cracked down.
“We have already reported the case to the federal government indicating that things became beyond our capacity though almost nothing has been done so far by the federal.
I do not know if we should express the seriousness of the problem through demonstration,” she stressed. Limitation of resources such as finance, skilled human power is the critical challenges that come at the frontline of the tourism sector in Tigray, she noted. Thus, the federal and state governments should seriously take into account this issue while allocating budget, she added With regard to finding a lasting solution for such problems domestically, the Deputy Head mentioned that the Bureau has been working in collaboration with all universities in this regard.
As a result, by now, all universities in Tigray are giving courses in heritage conservation from first degree to PHD level and these graduates have been and are still playing a key role in solving other problems away from that of the obelisks of Axum and rock hewn churches which require extra knowledge and skill. The same is true for Archaeology that they have started graduating students in masters since the last recent years.
The Ministry of culture and tourism said it is working to restore and repair 26 old and damaged heritages across the nation. Gezahagne Abate, Public and international relations Director, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, told s that the Ministry is currently working in this regard with 100 days plan. As to him, 26 heritages are already identified to be restored and repaired nationwide. With regard to the obelisks of Axum, the Ministry, as for Gezahagne, is working to remove the poles erected to support the obelisk returned from In this regard, researches have been conducted for the last two years to avoid possible damage to it and other heritages beneath it.
“Now, we have already finalized all our preparations in terms of conducting research mainly focusing on the basement of the obelisks. And the Ethiopian Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritages allocated the budget needed for that. By now, we are waiting for the response of the company we provided our research outcomes believing that it is the capable one to remove these poles safely, he said.
Herald January 23/2019
BY SHUSHAY ADANE
