. 2005 ACTIVITIES I. Professional training and workshops A – Basic principles in conservation of graphic documents Context: This pilot workshop will enable the opening of EPA's university courses to professionals working in the field of archives and libraries. It also aimed at encouraging a dialogue between these professionals and their colleagues from African museums with whom they often share the same problems within the context of their work. Target: About a dozen African archive, library and museum professionals working with graphic documents. Objective: At the end of the course, participants should be able to identify dangers to graphic documents, carry out or advise on adequate first aid interventions for the conservation of these documents. Content: Courses talked about basic principles in the conservation and protection of graphic documents, planning, etc. Dates: From 7 to 25 February 2005. Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain and Direction des Archives Nationales (National Archives of Benin), Porto-Novo Partners: ICCROM, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, National Archives of Benin, EPA Financing: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   B- Visitor policy: what approach for African museums? Target: Approximately 15 African professionals from museum or related institutions. Objective: Prepare the implementation of efficient visitor policies in African museums in order to amplify the results expected from the "Museums in the service of development" programme. Content: The workshop was based on a common analysis of the experiences of African museums respecting their relationship to their audiences and discussions around tools developed (in and out of Africa) by professionals to attract visitors, especially children. Dates: May 16 to 21, 2005 Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, Porto-Novo, Benin. Financing: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African museums, EPA.   C - Central Africa: overview and development strategies for cultural heritage Context: National cultural institutions were created very early in Central Africa, as well as in other areas of the continent, with various pan-African vocations. But the hope that they created dwindled. ICCROM (International Center for the Study of the Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Property) stated in 1995 "the activity of museums of this area is less obvious than in the rest of the continent". It is in order to contribute to the implementation of a coherent action plan for the re-vitalisation of this area, that UNESCO and EPA created this workshop for managers of national cultural institutions of Central Africa. Target: Approximately 15 heritage directors and managers from Central Africa Objective: the workshop aimed at helping heritage directors and managers from Central Africa to identify factors which hamper the development of cultural activities in their area in order to revitalize their mission of safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage. Content: the workshop was based on an appraisal of heritage conventions in Central Africa, of the institutional framework and resources, and suggestions for specific action plans for the better management of cultural heritage. Dates: May 23 to 27, 2005. Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain , Porto-Novo, Benin Partners: UNESCO, EPA   D - How are sites nominated on the World Heritage List Context: statistics show how under represented African heritage is on the World Heritage List although Africa possesses many sites that could be listed. Many files for these sites are put aside or disqualified. Studying a site, putting together relevant information and respecting the submission format is a process which needs to be learnt in order for submissions to go through. Target: About 20 professionals and managers from Central and West Africa. Objective: Provide information to participants in order to enable them to prepare good submission files, which will in turn increase the number of African cultural goods on the World Heritage List. Content: The workshop was based on the sharing of experiences and case studies of rejected and accepted submission files as well as submission files currently in progress. Dates: May 30 to June 03 2005 Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, Porto-Novo, Benin Partners: Italy, Netherlands, Africa 2009 Programme   E - Press and Cultural Heritage: what partnership for the sustainable conservation of Cultural heritage in sub-Saharan Africa? Context: It is because the "Press and cultural heritage" relationship in Africa is so fragile that EPA and the Africa 2009 Programme have cooperated to inform and debate with media professionals on issues concerning the implication of civil society and all the development stakeholders for an efficient and sustainable use of the educational, cultural and economic potentials of African cultural heritage. Target: About twenty African media and heritage professionals from five countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea. Objective: Share with media professionals the stakes linked to the safeguarding and enhancement of African heritage in order to identify the ways to better use cultural resources in the context of the struggle against poverty. Content: The workshop was based on the analysis of individual experiences of the relationship between press and cultural heritage, the stakes linked to the safeguarding of this heritage, and the role of the different stakeholders, journalists included. The workshop also consisted in debates centred on innovative and concerted actions to better sensitise audiences, in particular the younger generation. Dates: July 18 to 22 2005. Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, Porto-Novo, Benin. Partners: Africa 2009 Programme, EPA.   F - Professional BA in Creation and implementation of cultural projects Context: The professional BA in Creation and implementation of cultural projects shows EPA's will to experiment with new methods of learning, more adapted to the realities of professionals of the continent. These realities are mainly characterised by the fact that these professionals cannot be away from work and family for a long period of time as is necessary for a long term graduating course (two academic years). Target: 8 African heritage professionals from the EPA network from Angola, Benin and Senegal Objective: Train a target group of EPA staff and partners in cultural mediation, give them the means to access a university course, start the transfer of content through case studies and practical work in context, while studying the transfer of the method to other EPA courses. Results: At the end of the course the eight participants obtained their BA at the University of Provence (Aix-Marseille). A group of 5 EPA trainers developed a knowledge of e-learning methods, and information on training on cultural mediation is available at EPA. Dates: March 2004 to September 2005 Partners: Centre national d’enseignement à distance (CNED), University of Provence (Aix-Marseille), EPA Financing: France-UNESCO Convention   G - " Conte, raconte ! " (Story, tell!) workshop Context: the Académie des Fées programme is part of EPA's ambition to make African cultural institutions (museums, libraries, etc.) play their role of development and individual and collective enriching. That is why this programme carries out activities during the school year with teachers and schoolchildren. In order to reinforce the knowledge of the school universe on the writing and telling of stories, the Académie des Fées organises since 2002 a workshop at the end of the school year. Target: 25 secondary school children and 15 primary school teachers Objective: Introduce participants to the writing and telling of stories. Dates: July 25 to 3 2005 Place: Jardin des plantes et de la nature, Porto-Novo Financing: EPA   H - Territories and Heritage workshop: Heritage and management of territories: approaches to operational tools Context: Because it is a witness of collective memory, heritage plays an important part in the making of the contemporary landscape. It is not preserving here and there traces of the past, but making them participate in the development of our environment. Unfortunately there is little interaction between heritage management structures and those in charge of urban planning and environment. This sometimes leads to urban planning that destroys identity. It is to improve this situation that EPA in partnership with Inp, decided to organise periodic workshops for African urban planners. Target: professionals in the area of urban planning, heads of rehabilitation or urban projects, heads of urban planning and environment in French- and Portuguese-speaking African countries of the EPA network. Objective: Give urban planning and environment professionals operational tools in accordance with the preservation and promotion of the identity of African landscapes. Results: three draft projects: 1. Summer palace of King Toffa 1er 2. Site of the future "Maison du patrimoine" of the town of Porto-Novo 3. Site of the new headquarters of the National assembly in Porto-Novo Content: the workshop consisted in presentations and debates on landscape planning tools, case studies, field trips and practical work in context Dates: December 5 to 9 2005 Partners: Institut national du patrimoine -Inp, EPA Financing: EPA, Inp, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Africa 2009 Programme. 2005 ACTIVITIES II. Services   A - Exhibition: Bronzes of the kingdoms of Ifé and Benin Objective: the exhibition aimed at showing the culture of the peoples of the Bight of Benin. These bronzes have an exceptional aesthetic and cultural value. The exhibition showed a royal art, the bronzes, which aimed at celebrating the greatness and the power of the Kings of these two ancient kingdoms of contemporary Nigeria. Dates: June 9 to 25 2005. Place: Centre Culturel Français, Cotonou, Benin B - Projet situé : Legibility and enhancement of the Jardin des Plantes et de la Nature (JPN) Context: The JPN is a rehabilitation programme of the sacred forest and botanical garden of Porto-Novo, started by EPA in 1998, in partnership with the Direction de l'Agriculture and the Beninese Committee of the International Council of Museums. The project is part of the implementation of the conservation and management plan of the JPN, the draft of which was written in 2002 by participants to the 4th Africa 2009 Regional Course on the management of immovable cultural heritage in sub-Saharan Africa. The diagnosis which was then established identified many urgent problems, such as the updating of the collaborative agreement, the promotion of the site, the improvement of conservation conditions and legibility. Since then, despite many efforts, many projects were not carried out, especially those regarding welcoming infrastructure, cultural activities, promotion to the media, and a better legibility of the site. Participants: Former participants of the Africa 2009 Regional Course, Direction du Patrimoine Culturel (DPC) of Benin, EPA, JPN scientific advisors, JPN managing team, Friends of the JPN, resource persons. Objective: - Recall the memory of the sacred forest of the Migan, by identifying and signposting some important areas of the forest which was destroyed at the end of the 19th century; - Make the site easily accessible during the rainy season by creating an appropriate drainage system and a footpath which can be used in every season; - Update the botanic inventory and make it available to a wide public; - Improve the understanding of the sites and visitor orientation by putting up adequate signposts including the COPAHUBA outdoor exhibition (in partnership with Romuald Hazoumè); - Increase and encourage visits to the JPN by publishing a visitors' guide and outreach for different audiences. Partners: AFRICA 2009, Direction de l'Agriculture, Direction du Patrimoine Culturel, EPA, Porto-Novo town hall, JPN. Date: July-October 2005 Place: Jardin des Plantes et de la Nature, Porto-Novo, Benin 2005 ACTIVITIES III. Studies A - Consultation and research mission on Old Accra Context: UNESCO’s multi-country Office in Accra commissioned EPA to carry out an observation and proposal mission on the safeguarding and the enhancement of the old town of Accra in Ghana. Dates: June 18 to 25 2005. Objective: Prepare a reference document which takes into account the cultural heritage in the global development plan of the old town, as a witness to the cultural importance of old African towns now in a state of degradation. Results: a document presenting the observations on Old Accra and suggestions for its enhancement programme, annexe of the synthesis of the results of the study on the rehabilitation of the historic heritage of Porto-Novo. Financing: UNESCO’s multi-country Office in Accra.   B - Study on the Bandjoun sultanate Context: After a terrible fire on Thursday January 20, 2005, the exceptional communal hut and part of the museum of the Sultanate of Bandjoun in Cameroon were destroyed. The disappearance of part of the collections, some of which dated back from the 15th century, and of the building is a great loss. Dates: January 30 to February 8 2005 Objective: Sum up the damage after the fire and suggest a safeguarding plan. Financing: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs   C- Study for the submission of the Benin Slave Route on the World Heritage List Context: The first file for the inclusion of the Benin Slave Route on the World Heritage List submitted to UNESCO by the Government of Benin in 2002 was rejected. The Government of Benin decided to start again using the services of a number of teams of experts, of which EPA. Dates: 2004 - 2007 Objective: Make a survey of Beninese sites linked to the slave trade and prepare a submission file for their inclusion on the World Heritage List. Results: inventory of sites linked to the slave trade in Benin, pre-validation workshop of the dossier Financing: Government of Benin; UNESCO 2005 ACTIVITIES IV. Publishing Reports and documents: Report on the Consultation and research mission on Old Accra Report on the Study on the Bandjoun sultanate ICT: Design and maintenance of the Africa 2009 Programme web site. Four issues of the EPA Newsletter (published quaterly). Publications: Proofreading and design of the Mock-up of the guide: Tourisme culturel sur la Route de l'Esclave en Afrique occidentale et centrale (Cultural tourism on the Slave Route in West and Central Africa) 2005 ACTIVITIES V. Partnership activities A - Académie des Fées In 2004-2005, Académie des Fées took place at the Finnish-African Villa Karo cultural center in Grand-Popo. Context: Académie des Fées aims to improve the quality of African children's lives (aged 6 to 14) by suggesting activities which develop their cultural and artistic sensitivity. Participants: 143 primary school children of the town of Grand-Popo Objectives: develop activities at the Villa Karo cultural center while teaching the history of the town in which it is situated. Content: The theme for the year 2005 was the history of Grand-Popo. Activities: Writing of a text on the history of Grand-Popo and on Villa Karo. Telling of the text on Villa Karo, text transformed into a tale. Acting of the text on Grand-Popo, text transformed into a play. Creation of costumes, masks and puppets for the play. Composing of songs and dances. Writing and telling four poems on Villa Karo and the town of Grand-Popo. Presentation of the children's work. Date: 2004-2005 school year Place: Grand-Popo, Benin Financing: Villa Karo, EPA   B - Rutgers University study tour Context: In April 2004, an EPA delegation carried out a visit to the USA during which they visited Rutgers University with which they signed a collaborative agreement. Following this a group of teachers from Rutgers chose Benin in a Fulbright project which enabled 12 teachers to go to Benin and Ghana for a workshop on the theme "Teaching the History of the Slave Trade Routes of Ghana and Benin". Target: 12 secondary school and university teachers from New Jersey Objective: Develop curricular materials for the teaching of the trans-Atlantic slave trade which should include discussions on the role of Africans in the construction of New Jersey. Content: the workshop consisted in papers given by specialists, visits to historic sites relating to the slave trade in Benin, and discussions with resource persons related to the phenomenon. Dates: July 22 to 29 2005 Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, Porto-Novo Financing: Fulbright Programme, Rutgers University Partners: Rutgers University, EPA C- OSIWA (Open Society Initiative for West Africa) workshop Context: In the framework of a collaborative agreement between OSIWA and EPA, EPA housed a workshop organised by OSIWA on the NGO's Preservation, Access and Digitization (PAD) project, the objective of which is to preserve and allow access to African culture through ICT. Target: 12 culture and ICT professionals from West and Central Africa. Place: Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, Porto-Novo Dates: from November 10 to 11 2005 D - Welcoming of interns and researchers Anna Seiderer (France), PhD student in philosophy at Paris X-Nanterre, research on African museums Ana Lucia Araujo (Brazil), PhD student at Laval University of Québec, research on the memory of slavery in Benin Anna Sambo (Italy), PhD student at Milan Bicocca University, research on Media and democracy in Benin Alessandra Brivio (Italy), PhD student at Milan Bicocca University, research on the Thron vodun in the Bight of Benin Paulette de Souza (Benin), université catholique de l'Afrique de l'ouest-UCAO, BTS in Tourism, theme: touristic promotion of the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Porto-Novo and Ouidah Mariam Chitou (Benin), université Gaza Formation, BTS management of human resources, theme: the collective convention, staff motivation factor: the case of EPA Denis Oyihoma (Nigeria), université Gaza Formation, BTS management of human resources, theme: the collective convention, staff motivation factor: the case of EPA Ivan Bargna (Italy), anthropologist, Milan Bicocca University VI. International meetings   Gérard Tognimassou: Participation in the 19th Africa 2009 Programme steering committee meeting, Bamako, Mali, December 12 to 16 2005. Domingos Ziva: Participation in the CHDA conference: "African Museums and Cultural Institutions in the 21st Century: development, management and partnerships", CHDA, Mombasa, Kenya, December 5 to 10 2005. Alain Godonou: Participation in the Italian cooperation day, Palermo, Italy, November 18th 2005. Gérard Tognimassou: Participation in the 7th Africa 2009 Directors' seminar and the 18th steering committee meeting, Mombasa, Kenya, October 31 to November 4 2005. Alain Godonou: Participation in the "Patrimoine et architecture des empires coloniaux européens" meeting, Inp, Paris, France, September 7 to 9 2005. Gérard Tognimassou: Participation in the meeting "Partenaires pour l'Afrique" (Partners for Africa) in the framework of the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee, Durban, July 16 2005. Gérard Tognimassou: Participation in the 17th steering committee meeting of the Africa 2009 Programme, Windhoek, Namibia, May 2 to 7 2005. Alain Godonou: Participation in the colloquium Mémoires croisées : esclavage et diaspora africaine à Québec, Laval University, Québec, Canada, May 2 to 6 2005. Edouard Koutinhouin: Participation in the preparatory meetings of the FESPAM (Festival Panafricain de Musique), Brazzaville, Congo, March 29 to April 4 2005. Anne Avaro: Teaching of the course on Documenting museum collections, CHDA (Centre for Heritage Development in Africa), Mombasa, Kenya, March 29 to April 7 2005. Alain Godonou: Participation in the meeting of African experts on World Heritage, Cape Town, South Africa, March 15 to 18 2005. Gérard Tognimassou: Participation in the evaluation meeting of the Africa 2009 course, Mombasa, Kenya, March 1 to 8 2005. Anne Avaro, Alain Godonou: Participation in the Preparatory meeting of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), Accra, Ghana, January 28 to February 4 2005.   They visited us   25/02/2005 Mr Neil, Ambassador of the USA in Benin 29/03/2005 Ms. Mayer, German member of Parliament 20/04/2005 delegation of six French senators lead by Mr Legendre 01/08/2005 Mr Barbosa, UNESCO Deputy DG 01/08/2005 Ms. Taubira, French deputy for Guyana 16/09/2005 Ms Gori, SG of Unidea Foundation, Italy 22/12/2005 Ms Rafiatou Karim, Minister of primary and secondary education, Benin All our thanks to our funding, institutional and technical partners for supporting our activities in 2005: AIF World Heritage Center of UNESCO Compagnia di San Paolo Fondation Bettencourt-Schueller Getty Foundation Government of Benin Government of Tunisia ICCROM Leventis Foundation Ministère des Affaires étrangères, France Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Italie Ministère de la Culture, France Ministère de la Culture, de l'Artisanat et du Tourisme, Bénin RFI UNESCO Abomey-Calavi university Centre d'Etudes Africaines de Turin Africa 2009 Programme Centre national d'enseignement à distance (CNED) Institut national du patrimoine (Inp) Université de Provence (Aix-Marseille)