BY TEWODROS KASSA
The people of Konso are known for their effective heritage conservation. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also recognized the noble activities of Konso forefathers in conserving and inheriting the natural and cultural heritages of the area to the future generations.
Proclaimed by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO (November 2015), African World Heritage Day (5 May) is an opportunity for people around the world, and particularly Africans, to celebrate the Continent’s unique cultural and natural heritage.
Since the proclamation of the African World Heritage Day, African cultural and natural, tangible and intangible heritages are celebrated across the globe, raising awareness of the benefits of its promotion and preservation, as well as the related challenges the continent faces.
Accordingly, while Africa is underrepresented on the World Heritage List (African properties account for some 12 percent of all inscribed sites worldwide), a disproportionately high percentage (39 percent) of these properties are on the World Heritage List in Danger.
Many of Africa’s wonders risk losing their outstanding universal value faced with various contemporary threats including climate change, uncontrolled development, poaching, civil unrest and instability among others. It is therefore more urgent than ever that this irreplaceable heritage should be protected and preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Recently, Ethiopia marked the African World Heritages day for the first time at a national level in Konso Zone, Karat Town. During the celebration experts stressed the need for replicating the wisdom of Konso people in preserving nature and man-made heritages. Their outstanding role is also witnessed in the efforts of effective public mobilization towards sustaining life withstanding difficult topography and natural disasters such as drought and climate change.
During the celebration, Ethiopian Heritage Authority Deputy Director General Hiwot Haile said that celebrating the African World Heritage day is crucial to promote public awareness towards the conservation of heritages. As to her, Ethiopia embraces numerous natural and man-made heritages that could be a great potential to support the national economy and generate more from the tourism sector if utilized properly.
“Undertaking successive heritages conservation and public awareness raising activities is important to inherit our heritages to the future generations,” she said. Moreover, heritages are important assets of the society that integrate the past, the present, and the future as a bridge. Therefore, every segment of the society is expected to play a constructive role throughout the conservation and development activities of heritages, she noted. She further said that Konso people are a role model with their culture of internationally acclaimed long-lasting heritage conservation wisdom.
The celebration of the day also plays a significant role in creating continental-wide cooperation for heritage development and community linkage. On his part, Konso Zone Administrator Dawit Gebeyehu said that the celebration of the African World Heritage Day in Ethiopia for the first time in Konso witnesses the area’s iconic roles in heritage conservation.
“Heritages are the real manifestations of a given society and immensely contribute to the socio-economic development of the community if researched, conserved, and developed well. In this regard, the Konso peoples nurtured the fundamental wisdom of sustaining our valued heritages. Therefore, the experience of Konso should be taken as a role model to cultivate heritage conservation at a national level,” he said.
According to him, Konso is known for its remarkable terracing works that enable the people how to sustain life in difficult terrain through forefathers and mothers wisdom. The Konso Cultural Landscape, which was registered as a heritage site by the United Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2011, landed on more than 14 thousand hectare of land.
This cultural landscape embraces farming terracing, Konso people’s small villages, and the reserved forest of different villages among others. The forest, terracing activities, and the small villages are given special attention from the community since it depicts their ancestor’s footprint and enables them to survive in life.
The forest and the soil preserved by the Konso forefathers and mothers through their own asset of heritage conservation helps the present and the future generations to generate income from the tourism sector. At the same time, they are also protecting nature from damage.
The experts finally recommended that it is worthy to share the noble experience of Konso peoples towards encouraging heritage conservation activities and harnessing the country’s untapped tourism sector. Effective heritage conservation is among the leading preconditions towards tourism development. The country could reap more from the tourism sector through utilizing maximum potentials and efforts through the heritage conservation moves.
Moreover, the wisdom of age-old heritages conservation is fundamental to stimulate the tourism sector income through attracting more tourists, aside from improving the livelihood of the localities. Accordingly, the African World Heritage day was marked on May 05 with various events including panel discussions, exhibitions, and visiting the ancient Konso landscape heritage sites, among others.
In sum, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to spearhead international efforts to draw on the vast potential of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage as a force for poverty reduction and social cohesion as well as a driver of sustainable development and innovation. Through this international day, UNESCO aims to increase global awareness of African heritages, with a special focus on youth, and to mobilize enhanced cooperation to safeguard the sites at the local, regional and global level.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 19 MAY 2023
