African World Heritage Day to be observed around Tiya World Archaeological Site in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, May 22, 2024 (FBC) – African World Heritage Day will be celebrated tomorrow in Ethiopia’s Tiya archaeological world heritage site situated in the Central Ethiopia region, the Ethiopian Heritages Authority disclosed.

The African World Heritage Day is annually celebrated as proclaimed by the 38th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in November 2015.

The day is considered as an opportunity to discuss the future of heritage in Africa and for people all over the world, in particular Africans, to celebrate the continent’s unique cultural and natural heritage.

Ethiopia will observe the day for the 8th times at continental level and 2nd at national level tomorrow under the theme: “Education for the Protection of African World Heritage,” at Tiya world archaeological site located in Gurage Zone of Central Ethiopia Region.

Ethiopian Heritages Authority said in a statement that cultural and natural heritages are instrumental to building national image besides their economic contribution.

The day provides an opportunity to create awareness about international conventions regarding the protection of heritages in African and beyond, according to ENA.

Currently, 46 African countries including Ethiopia have contributed 147 heritages to the global community. Out of the 147 world heritages, Ethiopia is number one among African countries by registering 11 heritages.

Tiya archeological site is one of Ethiopia’s world heritages. The place provides   stones stelae decorated with symbols, some of them sword-like. There are in total 36 stelae date from between the 10th and 15th centuries AD.

They are seen as the best examples of a larger tradition of megalithic pillar sites in the region