A team of international researchers from the US-based heritage preservation organisation Global Digital Heritage have partnered with the Malawi Government to digitally document ancient rock paintings within the Chongoni Rock Art Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dedza District.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture through the Department of Museums and Monuments.
The initiative aims to preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage using advanced digital technologies.
Director of Museums and Monuments, Potiphar Kaliba, said the initiative will enhance the visibility of Malawi’s heritage on the global stage, while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
Kaliba said this during a community engagement and sensitisation meeting held at Group Village Headman Chiphazi in the area of Traditional Authority Kaphuka in Dedza District.
“Once the site is digitally documented, it will be easier to promote it internationally, attracting more tourists and generating foreign exchange. Local people involved in tourism and cultural activities also stand to benefit,” said Kaliba.
He added that the exercise is a major step towards protecting one of Malawi’s most valuable cultural treasures.
President of Global Digital Heritage, Herbert Maschner, described Chongoni as a remarkable cultural landscape whose unique rock paintings deserve high-quality digital preservation.
“These records will help ensure the paintings are protected for future generations while supporting research, education and cultural promotion,” he said.
The Chongoni Rock Art Area spans 126.4 square kilometres of forested granite hills and contains more than 127 rock art sites, making it the richest concentration of rock art in Central Africa.
