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Sifelani Tsiko
Innovations Editor
UNESCO director-general Ms Audrey Azoulay has hailed the late Pan African heritage scholar — Professor Dawson Munjeri who passed away on April 29 this year in Harare, as an icon and a ‘leading light for cultural stewardship in Africa.’
In a statement, Ms Azoulay said Professor Munjeri was an eminent scholar and staunch defender of the world heritage of Africa and beyond.
“It is with deep sadness that UNESCO has learned of the death of Professor Dawson Munjeri. He was a leading figure in the field of heritage conservation and a leading light for cultural stewardship in Africa,” she said.
“His lasting legacy, forged through decades of unwavering commitment to protecting Zimbabwe and Africa’s diverse heritage, has left an indelible mark on the World Heritage and UNESCO community. His immense contribution has led to the establishment of the African World Heritage Fund, the recognition of more African sites as World Heritage Sites and the recent Strategy for World Heritage in Africa.”
The eminent scholar who was Zimbabwe’s cultural ambassador to Unesco and an expert in heritage conservation and monitoring in many countries was accorded a State-assisted funeral and was laid to rest at Glen Forest Cemetery, on May 3.
He was 75.
“More than his contributions to shaping national and international policies for the protection of cultural heritage in Africa, Prof Munjeri’s lasting legacy will be his role as a mentor and beacon of inspiration to countless African professionals,” the Unesco director general said.
“He raised a new generation of heritage professionals and taught them the great importance of educating, preserving, and promoting our shared cultural heritage.
“UNESCO extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Prof Dawson Munjeri, who was a devoted father and proud grandfather. We will forever cherish the dedication, compassion, and humanism that characterised him throughout his life.”
Prof Munjeri’s lifelong commitment to preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage began at a young age, fuelled by a passion for history and a deep reverence for the past.
“His journey led him to become a leading authority on Zimbabwean heritage, known for his scholarly rigour and unwavering advocacy,” Ms Azoulay said.
From 1983, as director and manager of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Zimbabwe National Monument, he played a crucial role in its inscription on the World Heritage List in 1986, before becoming head of Zimbabwe’s National Monuments and Museums.
In this capacity, he hosted the first Global Strategy meeting in Harare in 1995 and also hosted the 2000 Conference on Authenticity and Integrity in the African Context.
He has been a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) since 1993 and was vice president from 1999 to 2003. In this context, he contributed to the organisation of the first ICOMOS General Assembly in Africa in Victoria Falls in 2003.
He has also carried out several evaluations of nomination files for ICOMOS.
Prof Munjeri was a member of the Zimbabwean delegation to the World Heritage Committee from 1997 to 2003 and served as vice-chairman and rapporteur at the 24th Session of the Committee in Cairns, Australia, in 2000.
He is the author of numerous publications on oral history, intangible heritage, authenticity in the context of world heritage and cultural landscapes, as well as a dissertation on international laws governing the protection of heritage.
From 2002, he served as Deputy Permanent Delegate of Zimbabwe to UNESCO for several years, while working tirelessly to position Africa about the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
“This is why, following the approval of the UNESCO Strategy for Priority Africa in 2021, he accepted to play a crucial role in the development of the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa (2022-2029) as a tool to implement the objectives of Priority Africa,” the Unesco director general said.
Prof Munjeri was born on July 11, 1949.
He is survived by four children – Theresa, Eugene, Kudzai, Farai and 10 grandchildren. His wife passed away three years ago.
Online Reporter