By Olimatou Coker
On January 10-25, four young Gambian professionals benefitted from a first-ever underwater archaeology training on the basics of the protection of underwater cultural heritage (UHC). Two of the trainees came from National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the other two from The Gambia Navy, key entities for the protection of underwater cultural artifacts.
Speaking, Able Seaman Sunkary Jarju, The Gambia Navy, expressed delight to have participated in this very first training as a woman. “This experience has given me a better understanding of our role as security agents for the preservation of our submerged heritage”.
According to Lamin Jarjou, Senior Programme Officer at UNESCO NATCOM the training which took place in Dakar, Senegal is one of the activities of the culture project funded under the UNESCO Participation Programme 2020 – 2021 and it is being implemented by the Gambian National Commission for UNESCO and the NCAC. The Direction du Patrimoine (DPC), Senegal provided technical support while the lead trainer Moussa Well is a UHC expert. “It shows the importance of South-South collaboration, especially between Senegal and Gambia, two countries with a shared maritime history that are the owners of a rich underwater cultural heritage”.
He further stated that the decision to hold this project with Senegal is justified upon its experience and advancement in the management of this lesser-known heritage. As mentioned earlier the training had been accomplished with the involvement of researchers in underwater archeology from Cheikh Anta Diop University and instructors from the Oceanium diving center in Dakar. The practical activities of the training took place in various sites of Dakar and Gorée”.
Commenting further Able Seaman Sunkary Jarju went on to say that she “really appreciated the collaboration with our Senegalese brothers who spared no effort to share their experience with us in this totally new field.”
Musa Foon, an officer at the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), also shared similar sentiments. “The experience acquired will allow me as a museum agent to participate in raising awareness among the Gambian public about the promotion and preservation of our submerged heritage.
Senior Programme Officer Jarjou added that the training activity is part of the project ‘Sensitization and Capacity Building on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage in The Gambia’. It aims not only at building capacities for the preservation of underwater cultural heritage, but also to raise awareness on the value of underwater heritage and the importance of preserving it through the ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention.
SPO Jarjou concluded by saying that this initiative is very well aligned with the objectives of UNESCO and its Multi-sectoral Office in Dakar for the protection of the submerged cultural heritage of the Atlantic coast of Africa.
