Conservation Challenges at Seven
African Rock Art Sites
Terry Little
TARA – Trust for African Rock Art
“Africa has more rock art and
the greatest variety of art of
any continent on earth, as
well as some of the oldest.”
MARY LEAKEY
Co-Founder, TARA
TARA has recorded 800+
sites in 19 countries
TARA’S MISSION
Create a greater global awareness of the
importance and endangered state of African
rock art; survey sites; be an information
resource and archive; and promote and
support rock art conservation.
TARA and UNESCO WHC in MOU since 2008
Status of the Seven Sites
2 are listed WH Sites
(there are 10 WH rock art sites)
1 listed WH natural site
1 on tentative list
1 recommended for tentative list
1 in a non-convention country
1 not national heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Listing
Blessing or Curse?
Benefits:
Increased Awareness
Increased Tourism
Risks:
Invasion – no local involvement
Unmanaged visitation
Few models for sharing benefits
Recent UNESCO listing:
Malawi - Chongoni
Malawi - Chongoni
Africa’s Vanishing Art:
Tanzania - Kondoa
Tanzania - Kondoa
Late White Paintings, Kondoa
Tanzania - Kondoa
Production
Kenya -ofKisii
Culture versus
Protection of Culture:Kenya - Kisii
Kenya - Kisii
Kenya - Kisii
Serious
Angola
Natural Threats:
Angola – Tchitundu Hulu
Angola – Tchitundu Hulu
National Pride: Uganda - Nyero
Uganda - Nyero
Uganda - Nyero
Heritage in a disputed State:
Somaliland - Laas Geel
Somaliland - Laas Geel
Somaliland – Laas Geel
Somaliland – Laas Geel
Preservation in a continuing conflict:
Niger, Dabous/Aïr
Niger - Dabous/Aïr Dabous
Conservation - our premise:
 Barriers e.g. gates, fences, walls –
often not efficient, practical or
appropriate to protect (or valorize) sites
Namibia
Conservation - our premise:
 Best defense = people living on or
near rock art sites if…
 there is a spiritual link to the site
 and/or
 they perceive economic or social
benefit from the site
Communities – UNESCO 2007
a) Heritage protection without community
involvement and commitment is an invitation to
failure;
b) Coupling community to the conservation of
heritage is consistent with international best
practice, as evidenced by comparable
international regimes;
d) Heritage protection, should, wherever possible,
reconcile the needs of human communities, as
humanity needs to be at the heart of conservation.
Uganda - Nyero
Uganda – Nomination of Nyero and
Twa Sites of Dolui and Karamoja
Tanzania - Kondoa
Tanzania - Kondoa
Tanzania - Kondoa
Niger – Post-conflict survey
Niger – Conservation workshop
Malawi - Chongoni
Rock art as a Gateway
What we have learned
1. Communities know what they want - authentic
information on their heritage. Build on that
2.Sites and settings will vary from place to place
projects should be custom designed.
3. M & E needs to be embedded in the post
project phase/ sustainability (monthly reports,
quarterly site visits).
4. Heritage conservation projects have to give
economic or social value for communities in Africa
“The rock art of Africa makes up
one of the oldest and most
extensive records on earth of
human thought. It shows the very
emergence of the human
imagination.”
KOFI ANNAN
UN Secretary-General 1996-2006