-To Restore African Heritage at UNESCO Africa Week
By Vaye Lepolu
Monrovia: In a passionate address delivered at UNESCO Headquarters during Africa Week 2025, Liberia’s Special Envoy on Cultural and Heritage Diplomacy, Ambassador Lorenzo Llewellyn Witherspoon, issued a bold call for global action to restore Africa’s displaced cultural heritage and address the lasting scars of colonialism.
Speaking to an international audience under the theme “Global Solidarity for the Restitution and Restoration of African Heritage through Education, Culture, and Sciences,” Witherspoon emphasized the need to move beyond rhetoric and take tangible steps toward reparatory justice and cultural healing.
“Africa has always been a wellspring of human ingenuity,” he declared. “From the ironwork of the Nok civilization to the libraries of Timbuktu, our contributions to global knowledge are undeniable—yet they’ve been erased or ignored.”
He proposed a “new global compact” rooted in action, not symbolism. This includes the return of stolen cultural artifacts, investment in African education and research, and a reimagining of global curricula to reflect African history and perspectives. According to Witherspoon, these steps are essential to repairing the “intellectual rupture” created by colonization and cultural theft.
The Ambassador drew strong parallels between Africa’s struggle and the Caribbean’s push for reparatory justice, referencing the CARICOM agenda as a model for broader African demands. He described the destruction of historical memory as a crime, stating that reparations are necessary to begin healing the wounds caused by centuries of cultural dispossession.
Witherspoon also spoke about the continued alienation experienced by the African diaspora, describing the transatlantic slave trade as a deliberate act of cultural and social erasure. “Reparatory justice,” he said, “must include restoring dignity and rebuilding the bridges of belonging.”
One of the most emotional moments of the speech came when he shared a conversation with a young Liberian archaeology student who had seen her ancestral mask locked behind glass in a European museum. “How do we connect with our ancestors,” she asked, “when we must buy tickets to see the only symbols left to remember them?”
The Ambassador urged the global community to see 2025 as a turning point—a year of deliberate action after years of reflection and preparation.
“Let this be the year we reclaim what is ours,” he concluded. “Not just in artifacts or archives, but in spirit, story, and self-determination. Through science, culture, and education, African heritage can not only be restored, but empowered to thrive.”
Africa Week at UNESCO, held annually in Paris, brings together leaders, scholars, and cultural advocates to celebrate the continent’s heritage and explore solutions to the challenges it faces. Witherspoon’s keynote is expected to reignite international conversations about restitution and the future of Africa’s cultural legacy.
