WHIPIC News

    “2024 World Heritage Interpretation and Presentation International Capacity-Building Workshop in Africa” Successfully Held in Rwanda

    26 Nov 2024


    The “2024 World Heritage Interpretation and Presentation International Capacity-Building Workshop in Africa” organised by WHIPIC, in collaboration with the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), and the Government of Rwanda, was successfully conducted between October and November. The workshop was held in two phases: an online session and an in-person workshop. The online workshop took place from 28 to 31 October 2024 via Zoom, while the in-person workshop was conducted in Kigali, Rwanda, from 11 to 15 November 2024. This year’s workshop focused on the theme "Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites Associated with Memory of Recent Conflicts in Africa“, bringing together 27 participants from eight African countries.


    The online session centred on lectures and participants’ case presentations. It provided foundational knowledge on interpreting world heritage sites associated with memory of recent conflict memories, insight into interpretation and presentation strategies, and international policies on interpreting sites of memory in World Heritage. Participants actively engaged through presentations over two days, sharing issues and challenges specific to their contexts.



    The in-person workshop, held from 11 to 15 November, involved practical activities based on WHIPIC’s Inclusive Heritage Interpretation Guidelines. Participants had the opportunity to develop interpretation plans for their respective heritage sites, considering feedback received during the online sessions.

    As part of the workshop, participants visited three compoments inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2024 under the property “Memorial Sites of Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi, and Bisesero”. Through in-person observations, they examined how the history of heritage as sites of memory is currently interpreted and presented with certain narratives. The visit was complemented by hands-on exercises, discussions, and the development of effective interpretation strategies, culminating in final presentations showcasing innovative approaches.



    This year marked the second phase of the workshop, designed to address ongoing issues in the African region and provide practical solutions. The event was conducted bilingually, in French and English, with simultaneous interpretation services to overcome language barriers.

    The collaboration with AWHF not only reinforced the workshop’s impact but also strengthened ties between WHIPIC and AWHF. WHIPIC remains committed to enhancing capacity and raising awareness around the interpretation and presentation of world heritage.