00:00In Malawi, projects focus on preserving rock art expressions that are part of the world's cultural heritage. Let's see.
00:11Awareness campaigns are being rolled out across communities in Malawi to preserve rock art works that are part of the country's legacy and humanity's shared memory.
00:21The rock art panels were being defaced with graffiti by local residents, especially those herding goats and cattle.
00:28We carried out awareness campaigns with community leaders who asked us to hire rock art guards.
00:34These guards came from the local communities. Since then, graffiti is no longer a problem.
00:43As part of these efforts to conserve these historical and artistic treasures, tourism has been promoted by both the state and non-governmental organizations.
00:51The project focused mainly on promoting rock paintings. We did this through a range of activities. One of them took place in 2024, when we trained tourist guides and local staff from the Department of Museums and Monuments.
01:09The training focused on how to interact with tourists and how to use social media to publish their content online.
01:19If we implement all conservation measures, there will be a major change in terms of development. Small jobs will even be created for local people. Development will continue as visitors will bring in money and that benefits everyone, including Malawi as a whole.
01:38The pieces reflect the artistic traditions of the badwab hunter-gatherers and the Chihuah farmers, showcasing the nation's richness as the place with the highest concentration of rock art in Central Africa.
01:53I think the cave is truly amazing and beautiful. And especially when you consider that the paintings are 10,000 years old, it's really incredible. Even the red color still looks so vivid.
02:10I believe the cave and its paintings should continue to be protected and remain a UNESCO World Heritage Site, even though there are very few tourists here.
02:23Preservation is vital for safeguarding the nation's and the world's cultural heritage, a status granted by UNESCO in 2006, and it also serves as a key pillar for the local economy.
02:38Thank you, David.
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