An important capacity-building program focusing on Mali’s ancient manuscripts was officially launched with the opening of a series of training workshops, part of the project to promote the preservation and accessibility of endangered African documentary heritage.

Led by the UNESCO Office in Mali in partnership with the NGO SAVAMA-DCI, this initiative aims to strengthen the skills of more than 70 people, including agents from families holding ancient manuscripts, students, and researchers, to better preserve and valorise this invaluable heritage.

The ancient manuscripts of the Sahel, particularly those from Mali, represent a unique source of knowledge and bear witness to the historical and intellectual wealth of the African continent. Facing threats from security crises and climate change, their preservation has become a top priority for national authorities and their partners.

With this in mind, the project aims to consolidate achievements from previous programs and improve practices for conserving, making accessible, and promoting endangered documentary heritage.

The training program is structured around several successive workshops:

• The first workshop, held from 29 June to 1 July 2026, focuses on prospecting techniques and identification of ancient manuscripts. Participants will gain skills to locate, identify, and document manuscripts within families, libraries, and other storage places.

• The second workshop, scheduled for 2 to 4 July 2026, will cover inventory techniques and the creation of catalogues. Participants will learn to collect, organise, and describe manuscript information, as well as develop standardised descriptive records.

These two complementary sessions, inaugurated on 29 June 2026 by the representative of the Minister of Handicrafts, Culture, Hotel Industry and Tourism, in the presence of the Interim Head of the UNESCO Office in Mali and the Executive President of SAVAMA-DCI, will cover the entire management chain of ancient manuscripts—from identification to systematic documentation—for the benefit of 15 agents from families holding ancient manuscripts.

“The Department of Handicrafts, Culture, Hotel Industry and Tourism assures its constant support for the success of this project and will pay particular attention to the expected results and their impacts,” said Mr. Mamadou Cissé, technical advisor representing the Minister of Culture.

The Head of the UNESCO Office, Mr. Ali-Mohamed Sinane, stated: “Preserving ancient manuscripts means preserving our memory, our identity, and our shared history. It also means passing on an intellectual heritage of inestimable value to future generations. I hope these workshops will be rich in exchanges, learning, and commitment, and that they will contribute significantly to efforts to safeguard Mali’s documentary heritage.”

After these two workshops, beneficiaries will be able to carry out field missions, correctly identify manuscripts, describe them, and contribute to their integration into structured inventory systems.

This training program, which will continue in the coming months for students and researchers on critical editing and translation of ancient manuscripts, marks an important step in strengthening national capacities for protecting and promoting ancient manuscripts in Mali.

Through these workshops, UNESCO and its partners, notably the Government of Japan, reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding African documentary heritage. The goal is not only to preserve these treasures for future generations but also to increase public recognition of them as historically important cultural heritage.