President William Ruto has called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to address global disparities in the recognition of African heritage, urging the body to embrace a broader, more inclusive understanding of authenticity.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the International Conference on Cultural Heritage and Authenticity in Africa held at the United Nations Offices in Gigiri, Nairobi, President Ruto emphasized that Africa remains significantly under-represented on the global heritage stage despite its rich and diverse traditions.
“Africa is a continent of immense authentic heritage that remains greatly under-represented on the global stage,” he said. “We call on UNESCO to review the disparities on inherited concepts of authenticity that often give priority to material forms over Africa’s dynamic, community-rooted, and spiritually-inspired heritage.”
President Ruto commended the conference for offering a platform for African voices in the global heritage conversation, noting that African heritage is not only vibrant and diverse but also deeply embedded in living traditions, spirituality, and collective memory.
During the event, the President witnessed the launch of the Nairobi Outcome Document on Heritage Authenticity, a landmark text that captures African perspectives and proposes a redefinition of heritage to be more inclusive of intangible and living cultural expressions.
