UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has 3 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List (2 cultural and 1 natural), the first inscribed in 1996 (W-Arly-Pendjari Complex). The map below plots every one of them alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 3
- Cultural
- 2
- Natural and Mixed
- 1
- First Inscribed
- 1996
Map of World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Burkina Faso. Click a dot to read about the site.
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger · 11.5300° N, 2.2900° E · 17,148 km² · 81 km from Diapaga
W–Arly–Pendjari Complex, also known as the "WAP Complex", is a transboundary Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger covering:
W National Park, shared by the three countries
Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit and a potential lion stronghold.
Adapted from Wikipedia: W–Arly–Pendjari Complex (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why W-Arly-Pendjari Complex Is Listed
- (ix)
- An outstanding example of ongoing ecological and biological processes.
- (x)
- The most important natural habitats for conserving biodiversity.
More about W-Arly-Pendjari Complex
UNESCO's Description
This transnational extension (Benin, Burkina Faso) to the W National Park of Niger, inscribed in 1996 on the World Heritage List, cover a major expanse of intact Sudano-Sahelian savannah, with vegetation types including grasslands, shrub lands, wooded savannah and extensive gallery forests. It includes the largest and most important continuum of terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems in the West African savannah belt. The property is a refuge for wildlife species that have disappeared elsewhere in West Africa or are highly threatened. It is home to the largest population of elephants in West Africa and most of the large mammals typical of the region, such as the African Manatee, cheetah, lion and leopard. It also harbours the only viable population of lions in the region.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
Ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso · 12.5878° N, 3.3290° W · 1 km² · 21 km from Dédougou
The Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (French: Sites de métallurgie ancienne du fer du Burkina Faso) are a collection of ancient metallurgy sites across five locations in the Nord and Centre-Nord regions of Burkina Faso, used to extract iron from ore. The oldest of these structures are dated from roughly 800 BC, making them the most ancient known examples of metallurgy in Burkina Faso. In 2019, the sites were registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of the exemplary evidence of ancient metalworking. Unlike other sites that are listed by UNESCO, these were chosen because it's a clear relationship between direct iron smelting (as opposed to only iron reduction") and early human society. They were able to create an efficient way to mass produce iron during a pre-industrial Africa.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso Is Listed
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (iv)
- An outstanding example of a type of building or landscape.
- (vi)
- A direct association with events, ideas or beliefs of universal significance.
More about Ancient ferrous metallurgy sites of Burkina Faso
UNESCO's Description
This property is composed of five elements located in different provinces of the country. It includes about fifteen standing, natural-draught furnaces, several other furnace structures, mines and traces of dwellings. Douroula, which dates back to the 8th century BCE, is the oldest evidence of the development of iron production found in Burkina Faso. The other components of the property – Tiwêga, Yamané, Kindibo and Békuy – illustrate the intensification of iron production during the second millennium CE. Even though iron ore reduction –obtaining iron from ore – is no longer practiced today, village blacksmiths still play a major role in supplying tools, while taking part in various rituals.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
Description
The five metalworking complexes that make up the World Heritage Site are located around the towns of Douroula, Tiwêga, Yamané, Kindibo, and Békuy. All together, there are 15 natural draft furnace ruins across the five sites, with smaller furnaces, mines and dwellings surrounding them. The natural draft furnaces reach up to five meters in height and are direct-induction, only requiring ambient airflow to operate. The other, smaller furnaces would have required the use of bellows to operate. Whereas the large, natural-draught furnaces are only found in those regions of Burkina Faso, the smaller furnaces are found throughout the country.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Key Facts
| Area | 1.2 km² |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q65685157 (CC0).
Royal Court of Tiébélé
Burkina Faso · 11.0897° N, 0.9616° W · 35 km from Bolgatanga
The Royal Court of Tiébélé is a traditional Kassena architectural complex located in the town of Tiébélé, in the Centre-Sud Region of Burkina Faso. This traditional complex consists of the residence and court of the Kassena king (Pè) and other royal family members, mausoleums, memorials, shrines, and other traditional adobe structures such as sacred groves and stone courts. The adobe structures of the complex are also renown for their traditionally decorated and painted walls, a craft that is done exclusively by women. The traditional royal court ensemble was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2024.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Royal Court of Tiébélé (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Royal Court of Tiébélé Is Listed
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (vi)
- A direct association with events, ideas or beliefs of universal significance.
More about Royal Court of Tiébélé
UNESCO's Description
The property is an earthen architectural complex established since the 16th century that bears testimony to the social organization and cultural values of the Kasena people. Enclosed by a protective compound wall, the Royal Court consists of a set of buildings arranged in distinct concessions separated by walls and passageways leading to ceremonial and gathering places outside the compound. Built by the men of the Royal Court, the huts are then adorned with decorations of symbolic significance by the women, who are the sole guardians of this knowledge and ensure this tradition is kept alive.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
The complex is more than 500 years old, being founded sometime in the 16th century by Patyringomie, chief of the Mossi people, an ethnic group that originated in the Loumbila area of central Burkina Faso. The royal court was initially added to Burkina Faso's Tentative World Heritage List on January 24, 2012, the same year it was added to the World Monuments Watch, and it finally proclaimed a World Heritage Site on July 26, 2024, during the 46th World Heritage Committee which was hosted in New Delhi, India.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Royal Court of Tiébélé (CC BY-SA 4.0).
World Heritage in Burkina Faso: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Burkina Faso?
- Burkina Faso has 3 World Heritage Sites: 2 cultural and 1 natural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Burkina Faso?
- W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, inscribed in 1996. The most recent is Royal Court of Tiébélé, inscribed in 2024.
- What are the natural World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso?
- W-Arly-Pendjari Complex.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.