Alaafin urges African nations to document cultural heritage as part of a broader effort to preserve the continent’s history and identity for future generations.
The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, made the appeal during a visit to the Afro Brazil Museum in São Paulo, Brazil. He warned that Africa could lose priceless historical treasures if governments fail to properly record and protect them.
The traditional ruler stressed that preserving cultural heritage has become even more important as Africa strengthens its engagement with the global community.
Alaafin Calls for National Registers of Cultural Assets
Speaking during the visit, Oba Owoade encouraged African governments to establish comprehensive national registers of cultural properties.
He said such registers should include artefacts, monuments, historical sites and other objects of cultural importance.
According to the monarch, these cultural assets reflect the achievements of past generations and continue to shape Africa’s identity today.
He added that preserving and documenting them would ensure they remain available for future generations and for global historical research.
“Africa is opening herself to the world in a way she has never done before. We are no longer viewed as the ‘Dark Continent’, while the civilisations that once flourished across Africa have become subjects of global artistic and historical interest.”
He also emphasised that museums have a leading role in safeguarding these valuable collections.
“The headcount of our cultural property must be properly documented. Museums across Africa have the primary responsibility of ensuring that national registers of these cultural materials are created because they belong not only to Africa but to humanity as a whole.”
Modernisation Threatens Cultural Preservation
The Alaafin acknowledged that modernisation has brought significant development across Africa.
However, he warned that rapid social and economic changes also threaten many traditional cultures.
According to him, the disappearance of long-established customs and community systems has accelerated the loss of cultural practices across the continent.
He explained that such losses affect important academic fields, including archaeology, anthropology and art history.
The monarch said failing to preserve historical objects and important cultural sites would create permanent gaps in humanity’s shared history.
For that reason, he urged African governments to increase investment in cultural preservation, documentation and museum development.
Afro Brazil Museum Serves as a Heritage Model
During his visit, Oba Owoade praised the Afro Brazil Museum for its commitment to preserving African history in the diaspora.
Located inside Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo, the museum is recognised as the largest institution in Latin America dedicated to the African diaspora.
Brazilian artist and curator Emanuel Araújo founded the museum in 2004.
Today, it houses more than 6,000 artworks, artefacts and historical objects covering over five centuries of Brazilian history.
Its extensive collections feature paintings, sculptures, photographs, ethnographic materials, religious artefacts, slavery-era equipment, traditional crafts and archival records.
Together, these collections document the history, resilience and contributions of Africans and their descendants in Brazilian society.
Beyond preserving history, the museum promotes cultural education, artistic development and professional training for disadvantaged Afro-Brazilian youths.
It also works to strengthen public appreciation of Brazil’s African heritage and multicultural identity.
Africa Can Learn from the Museum’s Approach
Oba Owoade described the Afro Brazil Museum as an outstanding example of how African history can be preserved outside the continent.
He said African countries could adopt similar strategies to improve documentation, conservation and public awareness of their own cultural heritage.
According to the monarch, stronger heritage institutions will help protect Africa’s identity while ensuring future generations understand the continent’s rich historical legacy.
The call as Alaafin urges African nations to document cultural heritage highlights the growing need to protect Africa’s cultural identity in a rapidly changing world.
By strengthening museums, creating national heritage registers and investing in preservation, African governments can safeguard invaluable historical treasures for generations to come while promoting the continent’s rich cultural legacy on the global stage.
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