In TIMELINE, youths seek protection of Africa’s cultural property, heritage

In a world filled with fast-paced trends and viral digital sensations, the essence of cultural property, and its protection often gets lost in the shuffle.

Cultural properties are not just ancient artefacts locked away in museums or sites that display cultural prowess, they are the heartbeat of our heritage, echoing through time and telling the story of who we are. From the mesmerising tapestries of ancient civilisation to delicate strokes of a forgotten artiste’s masterpiece, cultural properties encapsulate the essence of humanity.

Imagine a world without the majestic sculpts of the Benin Bronzes, the Yoruba Gelede Masks, the Nok Terracotta Figures, the ancient and beautiful Sukur Cultural Landscape, the age-long Osun Sacred Grove, The Ogbunike Caves, the adored Pyramid of Egypt, or even the vibrant Murals of the Maya Civilization. Cultural properties are living testaments of our shared history and a connection to our roots, thus the need to protect them.

But what do we do, when the survival of these properties, is threatened by factors linked to humans, the very humans who are tasked with the responsibility of protecting and preserving cultural properties for future generations? To lose them will be akin to tearing pages out of the book of humanity, leaving gaps in our understanding of where we come from, and who we aspire to be.

Here is the plot twist, today’s generation often pays little attention to this salient but silent battle. Amidst the clamour of social media, website conversations, streaming services, and the constant buzz of the digital age, the significance of preserving our cultural heritage tends to fade into the background.  Thankfully, beneath this challenge lies an opportunity to foster positive change.

Individuals, organizations, and countries are making big moves toward protecting cultural properties. Laws are being made and upheld to preserve cultural properties, and international organizations are partnering with indigenous institutions to stop the destruction, theft, illegal migration, as well looting of cultural properties. The media also plays a significant role by creating awareness and promoting education.

In response to these big moves, it’s amazing how the youths are using social media platforms to amplify their voices and make themselves heard. They are actively engaging in discussions about societal issues that concern development, including those around cultural heritage and recognizing that it’s not just an individual obligation but a collective responsibility.

One of the most exciting examples of this is ‘TIMELINE’, a weekly online vodcast on YouTube by Hude Network, driven by young people. In their conversation, the young participants portrayed the protection of cultural property as a contemporary and exciting issue that resonates with young minds. I mean, who knew that preserving our heritage could be so cool?

If young people continue to collaborate and amplify their voices on social media, they can trigger a wave of positive change in society. Can you feel the daring aura of positive change stirring in the air?

Let’s join in the quest, to preserve our cultural heritage and make the world a better place!