United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, launched a cultural community project aimed at rehabilitating and safeguarding the threatened San rock art in and around the Matobo Hills World Heritage Site.
The US$125,000 project is funded under the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, with a primary focus on rehabilitating the San rock art in Pomongwe Cave and building community appreciation and protection for rock art in the surrounding areas.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Tremont highlighted that the project aims to safeguard the rich heritage represented by the rock paintings within and around the Matobo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Local and traditional leaders, government representatives, artists, academics and community members will participate in the project in their various respective capacities.
Pomongwe cave is one of the most visited sites in the park and is symbolic of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Ambassador Tremont said the project also seeks to address ongoing threats to these cultural treasures through enhanced documentation and conservation efforts.
“This project will complement the work done by numerous Zimbabwean institutions represented here today responsible for the preservation and documentation of cultural heritage. This includes minimizing environmental damage such as dust and animal interference, while fostering a sense of heritage awareness within local communities,” Tremont said.
“The preservation project will be implemented in collaboration with esteemed partners including the Friends of the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, Amagugu International Heritage Center, the University of Zimbabwe’s History, Heritage and Knowledge Systems Department, and the TRACES Laboratory at the University of Toulouse in France. The project would not be possible without the invaluable support of the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and UNESCO.”
She added: “This project will not only benefit from academics, local experts in Matobo will also lead in the documentation and interpretation of the sites. I look forward to hearing the stories from this project. Your voices and perspectives will shape the project’s direction and build long term sustainability in rock art preservation.”
Bulawayo-based mural artist, Leeroy Brittany, who will be working with community members on the painting, said the project is a significant initiative as it upholds the importance of art within communities and promotes domestic and international tourism.
Brittany said the project will also help in making people appreciate the concept around the importance of murals.
“This is a very important project. Not just for the community but for the arts sector as a whole. Most people do not understand the concept of murals, they often associate it with criminal activities, but in actual essence it is a way of communication in art form. Having this project and working on it with community members will enhance the understanding and appreciation of art,” Brittany said.
“We have been working with historical experts, academics and various stakeholders. So far the journey has been interesting and challenging at the same time. We have visited several sites that have rock art, trying to learn about the paintings-the type of paint that they use, the message being communicated among other aspects.
“At the moment we are seized with efforts to come up with ways in which we can come up with the closest paint mixtures that will enable us to come up with the colors that were used by the San to create their paintings.”
He added: “We have representatives from each community under which the project is being implemented. We aim for each community to have a rock slate where they will do their own paintings, based on the ones that are prevalent in their area and these can be stored for safeguarding. At the end of the project we shall have a documentary and a book which will be published to ensure that this information goes far and wide.”
