UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria
Nigeria has 2 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List (2 cultural), the first inscribed in 1999 (Sukur). 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
- 2
- Cultural
- 2
- Natural and Mixed
- 0
- First Inscribed
- 1999
Map of World Heritage Sites in Nigeria
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Nigeria. Click a dot to read about the site.
Sukur
Nigeria · 10.7406° N, 13.5717° E · 8 km² · 62 km from Mubi
Sukur or Sukur Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on a hill above the village of Sukur in the Adamawa State of Nigeria. It is situated in the Mandara Mountains, close to the border with Cameroon. Its UNESCO inscription is based on the cultural heritage, material culture, and the naturally-terraced fields. Sukur is Africa's first cultural landscape to receive World Heritage List inscription.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Sukur (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Sukur Is Listed
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (v)
- An outstanding example of traditional human settlement or land use.
- (vi)
- A direct association with events, ideas or beliefs of universal significance.
More about Sukur
UNESCO's Description
The Sukur Cultural Landscape, with the Palace of the Hidi (Chief) on a hill dominating the villages below, the terraced fields and their sacred symbols, and the extensive remains of a former flourishing iron industry, is a remarkably intact physical expression of a society and its spiritual and material culture.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
Iron Age relics found in the form of furnaces, ore, and grindstones at the site have been established to be of pre-Sukur existence. There are also some finds from the Neolithic period. The recent history is traced to the Dur dynasty of the 17th century. The Dur established the region as a major supplier of raw material for iron manufacture to northeastern Nigeria; this was perpetuated to the first decade of the 20th century. From 1912 to 1922 Sukur was ravaged by the invasions of Hamman Yaji, the pullo Lamdo (chief) of Madagali. These wars resulted in the decline of iron smelting till 1960, a period which witnessed people migrating to the plains situated towards north and south of Sukur.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sukur (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Osun-Osogbo Grove
Nigeria · 7.7549° N, 4.5506° E · 1 km² · 2 km from Oshogbo
Osun-Osogbo is a sacred grove along the banks of the Osun river just outside the city of Osogbo, Osun State of Nigeria.
The Osun-Osogbo Grove is several centuries old and is among the last of the sacred forests that once adjoined the edges of most Yoruba cities before extensive urbanization. In recognition of its global significance and cultural value, the Sacred Grove was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
The 1950s witnessed the desecration of the Osun-Osogbo Grove: shrines were neglected and priests abandoned the grove as customary responsibilities and sanctions weakened. Prohibited actions like fishing, hunting and felling of trees in the Grove was done indiscriminately until an Austrian national named Susanne Wenger (1915–2009) helped to reinstate traditional protections.
With the support and encouragement of the Ataoja (the royal king of the time) and the support of the concerned local people. Wenger "formed the New Sacred Art movement to challenge land speculators, repel poachers, protect shrines and begin the long process of bringing the sacred place back to life by establishing it again, as the sacred heart of Osogbo".
Adapted from Wikipedia: Osun-Osogbo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Osun-Osogbo Grove Is Listed
- (ii)
- An important interchange of human values.
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (vi)
- A direct association with events, ideas or beliefs of universal significance.
More about Osun-Osogbo Grove
UNESCO's Description
The dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove, on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria. Regarded as the abode of the goddess of fertility Osun, one of the pantheon of Yoruba gods, the landscape of the grove and its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun and other deities. The sacred grove, which is now seen as a symbol of identity for all Yoruba people, is probably the last in Yoruba culture. It testifies to the once widespread practice of establishing sacred groves outside all settlements.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
World Heritage in Nigeria: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Nigeria?
- Nigeria has 2 World Heritage Sites: 2 cultural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Nigeria?
- Sukur, inscribed in 1999. The most recent is Osun-Osogbo Grove, inscribed in 2005.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Nigeria in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Nigeria is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.