Adopted by the Africa24 Conference: The Mombasa Recommendations
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), with support from SwahiliPot, the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), the National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC), SD-WISHEES, the Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Nigeria (FOPCHEN), the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA), the UNESCO National Commission for the Philippines, ICOMOS South Africa, the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), the Vernacular Heritage Initiative (VHI) and the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks World Heritage Site, convened the Africa24 Conference on the conservation of built heritage in Africa. Held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 25 to 29 November 2024, the conference focused on the theme: “The Heritage We Want: Shaping the African Renaissance in a Global Context”.
This event brought together African local communities, African experts and Emerging professionals and also experts from outside the region. Through themed paper presentations, participants shared experiences on the conservation of heritage in Africa. During the conference, a volunteer committee worked to capture the key ideas, insights and lessons emerging from the presentations and discussions. The goal was to synthesize the diverse perspectives expressed into actionable recommendations, while also addressing the gaps and unanswered questions that emerged during the conference. The recommendations were first presented on-site to participants for feedback, then circulated to ICOMOS National Committee Presidents from the Africa Region — particularly those who were unable to attend the Mombasa conference in person — for their input and endorsement.
The resulting Mombasa Recommendations are directed to governments and policymakers, ICOMOS and its African National Committees, heritage professionals, local communities, and stakeholders. They reaffirm ICOMOS’s commitment to the conservation of Africa’s heritage and issue a collective call to action to realize the African vision of “The Africa We Want” through “The Heritage We Want”.
These recommendations provide both feedback and actionable insights to key actors and stakeholders in the field, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their invaluable contributions, including the African National Committee Presidents who provided input after the conference.