Efforts underway for registration of Gedeo cultural landscape by UNESCO

Addis Ababa, August 2, 2023 (FBC) – Efforts are in progress to register the cultural landscape of the Gedeo Zone in Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said Gedeo Zone Department of Culture and Tourism.

In an exclusive interview with Fana Broadcasting Corporate’s Yeshambel Mihret, the head of the Department, Yoseph Maru, stated that experts and stakeholders of the zone are working diligently for the registration of the Gedeo cultural landscape by the UN agency.

Indicating the Gedeo community’s land management as one of the prospects to be inscribed by UNESCO, Yoseph said that there are historical artifacts, stelae, cave inscriptions, and traditionally-managed forests that are manifestations of ancient civilization.

Local and foreign experts are participating in the process, he pointed out, disclosing that the documents required for registration by UNESCO have been prepared.

There are about 10,000 stelae in the Gedeo zone, which are believed to be the oldest in East Africa, have been selected for registration, he said.

Stating the vital economic value the heritages provide to the country upon registration by the UN agency, Yoseph confirmed that the process for registration of the cultural landscape has been completed.

The Gedeo cultural landscape is expected to be inscribed by UNESCO at the Extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee that will be held from September 10 to 25, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he said.

Besides to pushing for the registration of the heritages, the cultural landscape of Gedeo should properly be preserved in order to benefit the local community and the country, Yoseph added.