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Memory of the World Register – Africa

UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register lists documentary heritage – texts, audio-visual materials, library and archive holdings – that have been judged to be of global importance. The register brings that heritage to the attention of experts and the wider public, promoting the preservation, digitization, and dissemination of those materials. The first inscriptions were added to the register in 1997. As of 2025, 570 pieces of documentary heritage were included in the register. Of these, 41 are from Africa. They include recordings of folk music, ancient languages and phonetics; aged remnants of religious and secular manuscripts; collected lifetime works of renowned figures of literature, science, and music; copies of motion pictures and short films; and accounts documenting changes in the world’s political, economic and social stage.

List by country/territory

Curing Diseases and Defects Both Apparent and Hidden Wdl 00465 0002.jpg|The Book of Healing from internal and external diseases affecting the body, a 17th-century magico-medical manuscript in Timbuktu, Mali IHERBIABT 006366.jpg|Reminder to those who do not pay attention to the harms caused by the divergence between believers, an acrostic poem in Timbuktu, Mali Witbooi-Journal-2-051.png|Pages from the Letter Journals of Hendrik Witbooi, National Archives of Namibia

Documentary heritageCountry/TerritoryCustodian(s), Location(s)Year
inscribedReference
Christopher Okigbo CollectionAfricaChristopher Okigbo Foundation, Brussels2007
Al-Mustamlah Min Kitab Al-TakmilaAlgeriaNational Library of Algeria, Algiers2017
First Summit Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement ArchivesAlgeria,
Egypt,
India,
Indonesia,
Serbia2023
Kitab Al-Qanun fi Al-Tibb: the Book of Medical Laws (Book Four)AlgeriaNational Library of Algeria, Algiers2025
Arquivos dos Dembos / Ndembu ArchivesAngola,
PortugalArquivo Nacional de Angola, Luanda2011
Colonial archivesBeninNational Archives, Porto-Novo1997
Documents on Slavery in the Archives of the General Secretariat of the Government (Cabo Verde, 1842-1869)Cape VerdeNational Archives Institute of Cape Verde, Praia2025
Memory of the Suez CanalEgypt1997
Deeds of Sultans and PrincesEgyptNational Library and Archives of Egypt, Cairo2005
Persian Illustrated and Illuminated ManuscriptsEgyptNational Library and Archives of Egypt, Cairo2007
National Library of Egypt's Collection of Mamluk Qur'an ManuscriptsEgyptNational Library and Archives of Egypt, Cairo2013
Treasures from National Archives and Library OrganizationsEthiopiaNational Archives and Library, Addis Ababa1997
Dutch West India Company (Westindische Compagnie) archivesGhana,
Netherlands,
Brazil,
Guyana,
Suriname,
United Kingdom,
United StatesNational Archives of Ghana, Accra2011
Royal Archives (1824–1897)MadagascarDepartment of National Archives, Antananarivo2009
Kitāb Shifā al-Asqām al-Āriḍat min al-Ẓahir wa al-Bāṭin min al-Ajsām/the Book of Healing from internal and external diseases affecting the bodyMaliMamma Haidara Commemorative Library, Timbuktu2017
Tadkirat al gāfilin ‘anqubhihtilāf al- mu’minin/ Reminder to those who do not pay attention to the harms caused by the divergence between believersMaliAhmed Baba Institute, Timbuktu2017
Maṣāliḥ al-Insān al-Mutaʿalliqat bi al-Adyānwa al-Abdān, The human being interests linked to the religions and the bodyMali,
NigeriaMamma Haidara Commemorative Library, Timbuktu2017
Records of the French Occupation of MauritiusMauritiusMauritius Archives, Port Louis1997
The Records of Indentured ImmigrationMauritius2015
The Slave Trade and Slavery Records in Mauritius (1721-1892)MauritiusNational Archives Department, Coromandel2023
The archival collections on the Bienheureux Père Jacques Désiré Laval - The Apostle of MauritiusMauritius2023
Kitab al-ibar, wa diwan al-mobtadae wa al-khabarMoroccoal-Qarawiyyin library, Fez2011
Manuscript of al- ZahrāwīsurMoroccoBibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc, Rabat2017
Al Orjoza fi teb by Ibn ToufailMoroccoArchives du Maroc, Rabat2025
Census of slaves in Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique determined by Portuguese decree of 12/14/1854Mozambique, Cape Verde, Angola2025
Letter Journals of Hendrik WitbooiNamibia2005
Windhoek DeclarationNamibiaNamibia National Commission for UNESCO, Windhoek2025
Fonds of the "Afrique occidentale française" (AOF)SenegalNational Archives of Senegal, Dakar1997
Collection of old postcards from French West AfricaSenegalNational Archives of Senegal, Dakar2015
William Ponty School Collection of PapersSenegalInstitut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar2015
The Bleek collectionSouth AfricaUniversity of Cape Town/South African Library, Cape Town1997
Archives of the Dutch East India CompanySouth Africa,
Netherlands,
India,
Indonesia,
Sri Lanka2003
Criminal Court Case No. 253/1963 (State Versus N. Mandela and Others)South AfricaNational Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria2007
Liberation Struggle Living Archive CollectionSouth AfricaDoxa Productions, Hout Bay2007
Archives of the CODESA (Convention For A Democratic South Africa) 1991 - 1992 and Archives of the Multi-Party Negotiating Process 1993South AfricaNational Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria2013
German Records of the National ArchivesTanzaniaNational Archives, Dar es Salaam1997
Collection of Arabic Manuscripts and BooksTanzaniaZanzibar National Archives, Zanzibar2003
Privateering and the international relations of the Regency of Tunis in the 18th and 19th centuriesTunisiaNational Archives of Tunisia, Tunis2011
The Abolition of Slavery in Tunisia 1841-1846TunisiaNational Archives of Tunisia, Tunis2017
The Music holdings in Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger's archives (1910-1932)TunisiaCentre of Arab and Mediterranean Music, Sidi Bou Saïd2023
Nehanda and Kaguvi mediums’ judgement dockets (April 1897). Case between State versus Nehanda and Kaguvi spirit mediums leading to their execution.ZimbabweNational Archives of Zimbabwe, Harare2015

Notes

Names and spellings provided are based on the official list released by the Memory of the World Programme.

References

References

  1. (2022). "Peace Studies for Sustainable Development in Africa".
  2. (24 May 2023). "64 new inscriptions on UNESCO's Memory of the World Registers". UNESCO Press.
  3. (2020). "The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme: Key Aspects and Recent Developments". Springer.
  4. (1 July 2021). "Launch of the International Memory of the World Register 2022-2023 Cycle". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  5. "Memory of the World". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  6. "Christopher Okigbo Collection". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  7. "Al – Mustamlah Min Kitab Al – Takmila". UNESCO Memory of the World.
  8. "First Summit Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Archives". UNESCO Memory of the World.
  9. "Kitab Al-Qanun fi Al-Tibb: the Book of Medical Laws (Book Four)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  10. "Arquivos dos Dembos / Ndembu Archives". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  11. "Colonial Archives". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  12. "Documents on Slavery in the Archives of the General Secretariat of the Government (Cabo Verde, 1842-1869)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  13. "Memory of the Suez Canal". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  14. "Deeds of Sultans and Princes". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  15. "Persian Illustrated and Illuminated Manuscripts". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  16. "The National Library of Egypt's Collection of Mamluk Qur'an Manuscripts". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  17. "Treasures from National Archives and Library Organizations". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  18. "Dutch West India Company (Westindische Compagnie) Archives". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  19. "Royal Archives (1824-1897)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  20. "Kitāb Shifā al-Asqām al-Āriḍat min al-Ẓahir wa al-Bāṭin min al-Ajsām/the Book of Healing from internal and external diseases affecting the body". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  21. "Tadkirat al gāfilin 'anqubhihtilāf al- mu'minin/ Reminder to those who do not pay attention to the harms caused by the divergence between believers". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  22. "A reminder to those who do not pay attention to the harms caused by the divergence between believer".
  23. "Maṣāliḥ al-Insān al-Mutaʿalliqat bi al-Adyānwa al-Abdān, The human being interests linked to the religions and the body". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  24. Adewumi, Afolasade A.. (July 2019). "Historical Treasures in Ruins: Salvaging Archives in Nigeria". Art Antiquity and Law.
  25. "Records of the French Occupation of Mauritius". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  26. "The Records of Indentured Immigration". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  27. "The Slave Trade and Slavery Records in Mauritius (1721-1892)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  28. "The archival collections on the Bienheureux Père Jacques Désiré Laval - The Apostle of Mauritius". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  29. "Kitab al-ibar, wa diwan al-mobtadae wa al-khabar". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  30. "Manuscript of al- Zahrāwīsu". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  31. "Al Orjoza fi teb by Ibn Toufail". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  32. "Census of slaves in Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique determined by Portuguese decree of 12/14/1854". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  33. "Letter Journals of Hendrik Witbooi". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  34. "Windhoek Declaration". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  35. "Fonds of the "Afrique occidentale française" (AOF)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  36. "Collection of old postcards from French West Africa". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  37. "William Ponty School Collection of Papers". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  38. "The Bleek Collection". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  39. "Archives of the Dutch East India Company". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  40. "Criminal Court Case No. 253/1963 (State Versus N. Mandela and Others)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  41. "Liberation Struggle Living Archive Collection". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  42. "Archives of the CODESA (Convention For A Democratic South Africa) 1991 - 1992 and Archives of the Multi-Party Negotiating Process 1993". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  43. "German Records of the National Archives". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  44. "Collection of Arabic Manuscripts and Books". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  45. "Privateering and the international relations of the Regency of Tunis in the 18th and 19th centuries". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  46. "The Abolition of Slavery in Tunisia 1841-1846". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  47. "The Music holdings in Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger's archives (1910-1932)". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
  48. "Nehanda and Kaguvi mediums' judgement dockets (April 1897). Case between State versus Nehanda and Kaguvi spirit mediums leading to their execution.". UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.
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