Heritage and Conservation: A Post-Colonial Assessment of Heritage and Conservation Laws and Policies in Cameroon

Heritage and conservation are crucial for any society because they portray the natural and cultural endowments of a people and offer opportunities for continuous education, valorization, and tourism. Between these two important concepts lies legal and institutional policies that require public awareness if the sustainability of the industry especially the endangered heritage is to be guaranteed at various levels. From 1972 when UNESCO started resolving on heritage conservation and promotion, , many countries in Africa have responded positively in ratifying and promulgating framed national laws to ensure their application. Cameroon falls within the Central African sub-region and has over 250 ethnic groups with diverse cultures, landscapes and heritage sites. However, the lack of knowledge or comprehensive national or local inventories or dataset about the endangered heritage naturally puts existing heritage at great risk. This paper contends that sustainable conservation would only be attainable in a context where there are comprehensive and reliable laws on heritage conservation as well as education and awareness programs. This paper seeks to assess the relevance of conserving, protecting, and promoting heritage education by valorizing existing national and international legal instruments and finally questions the prospects for the future.

Keywords: Cameroon, UNESCO, Heritage, Conservation, Laws, inventories

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