Speaking at a dinner hosted by the President of the Ford Foundation, Lius Ubinas, in New York City, he said: “West Africa is rich in cultural heritage of great significance to human history, which needs international support to preserve and conserve.''
He cited the heritage to include the 8,000 year-old Dunfuna Canoe in Damaturu, Nigeria, and the Nok Terracota of about 500 BC, also in Nigeria.
Others, Anyaoku said, were the famous bronzes of Igbo Ukwu, Ife and Benin in Nigeria, the Ashanti stools and gold weights of Ghana and the famous historical heritage of Timbuktu in Mali.
He also stressed the importance of the discovery, conservation and study of cultural heritage for the socio-economic growth and development of humanity and for promoting the concept of “our common humanity”.
Anyaoku lamented the lack resources for archeology and museums in Africa was impeding the conservation of artifacts and other cultural materials for historical value.
In his remarks, the President of the Ford Foundation, Luis Ubinas, said that the foundation was supporting an ambitious effort to preserve hundreds of thousands of ancient manuscripts in Timbuktu, Mali and other cultural heritage across West Africa.
Ubinas said the Ford Foundation was also working on long-term efforts to protect, restore and open up scholarly works to researchers, Ubinas said.
“Throughout our history, we have supported those working to build understanding and preserve the diversity of human wisdom and knowledge,'' he added.
He also disclosed that the foundation is working with a range of grantees dedicated to preserving the history and culture of people around the world. The dinner attracted diplomats, foundations members of NGOs, and other dignitaries.
The Ford Foundation was established on Jan. 15, 1936, with an initial gift of US$ 25,000 from Edsel Ford, whose father Henry, founded the Ford Motor Company.
The foundation mission is to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement.
New York - 13/05/2009
Pana
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