In a strong show of support for the preservation of The Gambia’s cultural heritage, His Excellency President Adama Barrow visited the Jufureh Heritage Village Museum in the North Bank Region. The visit marks a proud moment for HERITΛGE, as the new museum has been made possible with funding from our Small Grants for African Heritage funded by the Mellon Foundation—and our HerMaP Gambia initiative, funded by the European Union.

The Jufureh Heritage Village Museum, developed by the Alamanding Foundation, is a community-driven initiative dedicated to safeguarding traditional knowledge, skills, and stories for future generations. More than a space for preserving artefacts, it serves as a living museum—a place where culture thrives through civic education, environmental awareness, artisan workshops, and storytelling gatherings at Banta Baa, a communal hub for cultural exchange.

At the heart of the project is the construction of a traditional Mandinka homestead, built using local materials and techniques that reflect the authenticity of rural Gambian life. The homestead complements an already completed Fulani compound, together forming a vibrant cultural complex that celebrates the shared heritage of the Mandinka and Fula communities of the Niumi District.

The initiative also supports sustainability and community empowerment. A solar-powered borehole has been installed to provide clean water and electricity to the site, ensuring that the museum operates in an environmentally responsible way. Meanwhile, 12 local stakeholders—including tour guides, museum staff, and tourism officials—have been trained by HERITΛGE in oral history collection, heritage interpretation, and cultural tourism marketing.

These activities are already generating impact. The museum has become a focal point for visitors seeking deeper engagement with Gambian heritage and for locals who see their traditions valued and sustained.

HERITΛGE is proud to have contributed to a project that not only preserves heritage but also creates opportunities, strengthens local identity, and demonstrates the power of community-led action. President Barrow’s visit is a testament to the national importance of such efforts and to the shared vision of building a more inclusive and sustainable future for heritage in The Gambia.

You can now visit the museum and find out more about Jufureh’s heritage. Find out more here.

*HERITΛGE’s Small Grants for Africa Initiative is supported by the Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place program. This project has also received funding from EU-funded HerMaP Gambia.

On 25 June 2025, the Africa Grants Team hosted the third online networking convening for the 2024 grantees. 65 people attended, including the grantees, HERITAGE staff, Regranting Committee members, and representatives from the Mellon Foundation and other African donors.

HERITAGE’s Richard A. Brown opened the session with a warm welcome, followed by Dimitra Gialesa of the Network Convening Taskforce, who thanked attendees and introduced the agenda. In this convening, twelve grantees presented their projects. The projects showcased a wide range of heritage work across Africa, including efforts to revitalise historic sites in Tanzania, promote cultural heritage in Cameroon, empower refugee women in Uganda, and build heritage museums in The Gambia.*

Following presentations, participants joined six breakout rooms organised by project type and facilitated by HERITAGE staff. These smaller groups encouraged peer discussions on common challenges and potential collaborations, with one member of the Grants Committee joining each. Discussions ranged from capacity building and craft training, restoration and documentation, to infrastructure support and heritage tourism.  Encouragingly, connections were made that may lead to future collaborations.

Overall, the convening reinforced the value of these gatherings as platforms for connection and shared learning, while also highlighting challenges in participation. The team plans to maintain thematic breakout groups and encourage more focused discussions on challenges and collaboration in future convenings.

*Kelvin Fella  Tanzania: ‘Improving Community Wellbeing to Rescue Bagamoyo Old
Stone Town’
Nfor Blessing Mbontu Cameroon: ‘’Smart Sacred Forests Reforestation Project’
James Agbor Ayamba Cameroon: ‘Protecting Heritage Through Promoting Culture’
Margaret Dear Kasande Uganda: ‘Supporting women and refugees in the Rwenzoris to
acquire skills and earn income from traditional basket weaving’
Hassoum Ceesay The Gambia: ‘Fort Bullen Revitalization’ (presentation delivered by
the manager Mamat Sallah)
Habab Idriss Ahmed Idriss  Sudan: ‘Documentation and Protection of Hillat Dongola’
Elhadj Ould Brahim Mauritania: ‘Preserving Haratin Bondja and Medh Musical
Traditions (first stage: Adrar Region, Mauritania)’
Nfamara Tamba The Gambia: ‘’Kubuneh-Galloya Heritage Trail (The Gambia)’
(presentation delivered by Dimitra Gialesa at the end because Nfamara was facing
internet connection issues through the meeting and he was disconnecting regularly)
Sanya Gilbert Lesotho: ‘Empowering Communities: Sustainable Tourism, Heritage
Preservation and Economic Empowerment Project at Kome Caves’
Anaclet Karangwa Rwanda: ‘The Development of Imanzi Heritage Village’
Hewan Goitom Berhane Ethiopia: ‘Addis Ababa Heritage Buildings Photogrammetry
Documentation Training and Exhibition’
Bala Saho The Gambia: ‘Building A Heritage Museum and Training on the Collection
and Management of Artifacts and Oral Traditions’

by Xanthippi Kontogianni, Ethiopian Program Manager, HERITΛGE

Harar Jugal, the fortified historic town recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a living testament to Ethiopia’s rich cultural and architectural heritage. With its intricate alleyways, traditional Harari houses, centuries-old mosques, and lively open markets, Harar has long served as a cultural and commercial melting pot. The town holds immense historical value while simultaneously serving as a vibrant home for its local community. However, the preservation of this unique urban landscape is increasingly threatened by urbanization, inadequate maintenance, and the impacts of climate change.

To both leverage Harar Jugal’s potential for the benefit of its contemporary inhabitants and safeguard the historic center for future generations, there is a pressing need to develop specialized skills in heritage conservation, traditional building techniques, and sustainable urban management. Strengthening local capacity in these areas is essential to ensure that the cultural and historical integrity of Harar remains intact while responding to the evolving needs of its residents.

Walls of Harar Jugal.

In  December 2024, the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Harar, one of the key institutions responsible for managing the Harar Jugal historic town, invited HERITΛGE to a virtual meeting. During the meeting, Mohammed Rabi, a representative of the Bureau, proposed organizing a heritage conservation workshop for Bureau staff and close collaborators. In alignment with its mission to train and empower heritage professionals to engage communities in stewarding their cultural assets for greater understanding, sustainability, and economic development, HERITΛGE welcomed the initiative and agreed to deliver the proposed training in Harar.

The workshop on Heritage Conservation was conducted in a blended format, combining online and in-person sessions held on 7-9 and 21-23 May 2025, respectively. This flexible format ensured accessibility while supporting dynamic, participatory learning. The training was led by Alexis Stefanis, Assistant Professor of Architectural Conservation at the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica. The curriculum was structured around three core content areas: General Principles of Cultural Heritage Conservation, First Aid for Finds, and Preventive Conservation. The online component delivered core theoretical content through lectures, readings, and discussions, while the in-person sessions emphasized hands-on exercises, group work, and live demonstrations. The workshop attracted 13 participants (8 men and 5 women) and was delivered under HERITΛGE’s HerMaP Ethiopia training program, which is funded by the Humanities in Place initiative of the Mellon Foundation.

Networking meeting with Mr Teweleda Abdosh Ahmed – Head of Culture, Heritage & Tourism Bureau, Harari People Regional State.

Participant engagement was enthusiastic and highly interactive. The hybrid structure facilitated broad participation, and both components were well-attended. One of the most impactful moments occurred during Dr. Stefanis’s live tool demonstration. After observing how the tools worked and understanding their applications, participants expressed a strong desire to use them directly. Encouraged by the facilitator, they took the tools outside and began applying them at actual heritage sites, collecting data and interpreting results on-site. Many cited this hands-on activity as the most transformative part of the training. Recognizing the value of practical learning, participants formally requested that the tools be made available for their ongoing conservation work.

Dr. Stefanis’s mission to Harar was supported by Natassa Nika, Africa Programs Coordinator at HERITΛGE, and Habtamu Gizawu Tola, HERITΛGE’s local representative in Ethiopia. Together, they met with key stakeholders, including the Culture and Tourism Bureau of the Harari People Regional State, the Construction Permit and Inspection Authority, and the Heritage Department of Haramaya University. These discussions highlighted the urgent need to preserve Harar’s distinctive heritage amid complex challenges. Participants identified priority areas such as capacity building in conservation and digital preservation, community engagement, and institutional strengthening.

These insights aligned with HERITΛGE’s ongoing mapping efforts in Ethiopia. Since launching its intervention program, HERITΛGE has conducted online surveys across the country to assess training needs and identify gaps in heritage management. Findings indicate that many professionals involved in conservation projects lack formal training, especially in areas such as architectural and artifact conservation.

Demonstration of tools.

The workshop and stakeholder meetings in Harar revealed not only the need for training and technical skills but also broader systemic challenges, particularly the lack of funding for project implementation and capacity development. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of collaboration, resource sharing, and establishing equitable partnerships. As a result, HERITΛGE and the Harar Culture and Tourism Bureau committed to ongoing collaboration and began developing a joint action plan.

Brainstorming sessions generated several promising ideas for future collaboration, including co-developing project proposals for funding calls, launching targeted capacity-building programs, and even establishing a university for conservation studies in Harar. As a first step, the partners agreed to draft a series of concept notes collaboratively, with the goal of developing a shared vision that would eventually lead to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HERITΛGE and the Bureau—formalizing the new partnership.

Overall, the experience in Harar marked a significant step forward in conservation capacity building and demonstrated the value of inclusive, hands-on training combined with strategic stakeholder engagement. It stands as a strong success story and a foundation for deeper collaboration in the preservation of Ethiopia’s unique cultural heritage.

 

On 30th April, our Africa Grants Team hosted the Second Networking Convening for recipients of our Small Grants for Africa, bringing together over 60 participants from across Africa for a virtual session. Our small grants initiative is made possible with the support of the Mellon Foundation.

The event featured grantees, HERITΛGE staff, members of the Re-granting Committee, and representatives from several foundations, including the Mellon Foundation, ALIPH Foundation, Arcadia Fund, DRK Foundation, and Kaplan Foundation. 12 grantees presented  projects from Algeria, Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. They showcased a broad range of community-driven heritage work, from the restoration of Keana Salt Village in Nigeria to the conservation of rock paintings in Uganda.

“ Heritage and culture are so important in many different ways in addressing social issues, economic issues and environmental issues”

Justin Garrett Moore, Director, Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place Program 

After the presentations, Justin Garrett Moore from the Mellon Foundation highlighted the significant role that heritage plays in addressing various societal challenges. “We’ve supported this work because heritage and culture are so important in many different ways in addressing social issues, economic issues,  and environmental issues. And I think all of the work you’ve shared here today has been showing jus the power  that work has,” he told attendees./

The convening concluded with a breakout session, where participants were divided into smaller groups to discuss their projects more informally. It was also a great opportunity for participants to network with each other and promoted collaborations between individuals and groups.

This was the second out of six planned events aimed at showcasing projects funded through our Small Grants for African Heritage Projects initiative, made possible through generous funding by the Mellon Foundation. 75 projects have received around $1million in funding. You can read more about the specific projects on our Africa Grants page which is continually being updated.

 

 

From 17th to 21st March, HERITΛGE welcomed 25 participants from across Rwanda to our online Project Development and Grant Writing Workshop.The workshop aimed to help participants gain a greater understanding of the development process whilst building specialised skills along the way. 

“The workshop enhanced our project planning, improved our funding opportunities through grant writing, strengthened communication, ensured sustainability, and expanded our networking for future collaborations.”

Brian Hativatye Geza,  Creative Director, Ubumuntu Arts Organisation

HERITΛGE’s Tim Healing introduced the workshop by focusing on project development and project management strategies including discussing the Project Cycle Method. Participants then concentrated on the process of writing grant applications, focusing on the key elements needed to make a persuasive case. This was accompanied by case study analysis and group exercises where participants could demonstrate the knowledge they had already developed over the last couple of days. It was gratifying to see how well everyone collaborated in their teams and enthusiastically engaged with the material, asking constructive questions throughout. 

 “The training was well prepared, with timely and clear communication. The content and instructions were concise and easy to understand. The heritage team actively supported us during plenary and group work, creating an engaging and collaborative environment. The team rotations allowed us to connect with one another, and the overall atmosphere encouraged full participation. Great job done!

Emile Morane, FASHA HUMANITY / UMUTI MU NGANZO, CEO- President Founder Owner

The workshop was held as part of the Rwanda Programme, HerMaP Africa, which is supported by the Mellon Foundation. 

Participants came from organisations including Gatore Arts, NZIZA ORGANIZATION, INGANZO Y’URURIMI N’UMUCO, Nomad culture hub, RCHA, Alexis Badege Mining Ltd, Rwanda culture conservation clubs and enterprise, Bwishyura Kivu Boat Co-operative (BKBC), Come&Dance, FASHA HUMANITY,UMUTI MU NGANZO, Dufatanye Organization, TOGETHER IS THE BEST, Educate!, Ubumuntu Arts Organisation, University of Rwanda, Akagera traditional cultural village, and  Millennium Community Development Organization (MCDO). 

To read more about our upcoming workshops, click here. 

 

“It is important to have capacity building, to have knowledge sharing, to have networks to increase solidarity in what is very challenging work.”

Justin Garrett Moore, Director, Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place Program 

Last month, we held our first Online Networking Convening of the 2024 Africa Grants Programme. The meeting, which was attended by representatives from 49 organisations, was a fantastic opportunity for grant recipients to share the successes of their projects with other grantees. It was also a chance to celebrate the projects and thank everyone involved including representatives from the Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place Program and the Re-granting Committee members. 

Richard Brown opened the meeting by outlining the positive impact of the Africa Grants Programme which has provided over $1,000,000 to 75 organisations in 32 countries across Africa. HERITAGE Director, Evangelos Kyriakidis, then emphasised the importance of the meeting itself as an opportunity for grantees to learn from other heritage professionals across the continent to build a stronger heritage sector saying “it is the only continent where there is such enormous diversity and wealth of heritage alive”. 

This diversity was emphasised in the following presentations where 12 organisations outlined what each grant had been used to fund. These projects included tangible and intangible heritage, natural and built, covered a range of cultures, varying religions and spanned eight different countries including Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa.* You can read more about the specific projects on our Africa Grants page, but it was a great opportunity to hear directly from the teams who have worked so diligently to champion their heritage. We look forward to hearing from more organisations in the following meetings!

*The 12 projects presented at the first meeting included: 

Mahmoud Malik Saako | Ghana: ‘Islamic Heritage in northern Ghana’

Vitalice Ochieng | Kenya: ‘Cultural Heritage Promotion and Conservation of the Kaya Forests, Kenya’

Chifundo Dalireni | Malawi: ‘Protecting Chongoni heritage sites through community participation and effective governance’

Getinet Fetene Engida | Ethiopia: ‘Protecting Heritages in monasteries of UNESCO Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve’

William Mutta Tsaka | Kenya: ‘Restoration Work and Museum Establishment at Masee House in Kenya’

Moses Mkumpha | Malawi: ‘Restoration of Anti-Slave trade buildings and opening of Museums’

Daniel Ishaya Mwada | Nigeria: ‘Rehabilitation of Rabih’s Fort, Dikwa National Monument’

Kamya Stephen Kyobe | Uganda: ‘Uganda bark cloth revitalization Consortium; promoting communal Conservation / protection’

Eunitah Viriri | Zimbabwe: ‘Towards the Preservation and Promotion of Matendere Ruins in Zimbabwe’

Didas Mzirai | Kenya: ‘Bustani Resort – The Taveta Cultural and Agro-Ecotourism Center’

Njung Gislane Bih | Nigeria: ‘Solarization of National Museum Onikan (Lagos)’ (presentation  delivered by her partner Tolulope Falola)

Tracey Viljoen | South Africa: ‘The Fisher Child and other stories. Sites of memory project’