Niger river, Segou, Mali. Photo: Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Inger A. Heldal

In November 2001, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Mali organised a workshop in Segou together with Africa 2009: “Why is it important to preserve the African immovable heritage?”  The answers were as diverse as the African continent. Africa 2009 is a programme involving ICCROM, the UNESCO World Heritage Center, CRATerre and African cultural heritage organisations. The goal is to increase the national capacity for management and conservation of immovable heritage resources in Sub-Saharan Africa. NORAD supports the programme financially, and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage is involved as advisors to NORAD. Africa 2009 is a unique source of information concerning African heritage and the dangers that threaten its conservation.