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By Peter Bakare
Governments across West Africa have been urged to prioritize the management and preservation of their cultural heritage. This call formed part of the resolutions reached at the 19th Biennial Colloquium of the West African Archaeological Association (WAAA), held at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, from October 12 to 15, 2025.
The association emphasized the urgent need for all West African states to safeguard archaeological sites and heritage resources within their territories.
On the opening day, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sogbesan, cultural historian and president of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-Nigeria), delivered a keynote address, titled “Whose Past, Whose Future? Decolonising Global Archaeology from West Africa.” She challenged archaeologists across the region to decolonize the archaeological record, arguing that “the African story is best told by Africans.” Dr. Sogbesan called for a re-examination of archaeological data that has long been interpreted through external perspectives.
In his keynote lecture, Professor Thilo Rehren, the A.G. Leventis Professor of Archaeological Science at the Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, advocated the use of advanced scientific techniques in the study of West African archaeology. Drawing on nearly two decades of collaboration with Nigerian scholars, he urged researchers to embrace modern analytical methods for deeper, more accurate interpretations that respect indigenous knowledge systems and move beyond oversimplified narratives.
Another keynote speaker, Professor Didier N’Dah, director of the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin Republic, made a passionate plea for the urgent preservation of archaeological and heritage sites across West Africa, particularly in times of conflict and instability. He stressed that safeguarding these sites is essential if West African archaeology is to take its rightful place in the global discourse.
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The colloquium featured diverse academic sessions with thought-provoking papers, including:
“Positioning Nigeria in Global Archaeology: Exploring Prospects and Challenges through the Lens of Material Science” by Amos Matoh (University of Jos, Nigeria)
“Imagining Heritage in the Digital Age in West Africa” by Daniel Kumah and Kodzo Gavua (University of Ghana)
“Sustainable Approaches to Digital Heritage Management: Lessons for West African Archaeology” by Akintayo Akinbowale (University of York, UK)
Participants also enjoyed cultural activities such as a performance of “The Engagement”, a play by renowned playwright Professor Femi Osofisan, staged at the Wole Soyinka Theatre. Earlier in the program, attendees visited the Archaeology and Ethnography Museum of the University of Ibadan’s Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, where they explored rich displays of Nigeria’s cultural and archaeological heritage.
The forum brought together scholars and practitioners from Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, and Nigeria, as well as participants from South Africa and Europe, fostering vibrant dialogue and collaboration toward the sustainable management of West Africa’s shared heritage.
