Oursi hu-beero Remarks

Oursi hu-beero Remarks
Ambassador Jeanine Jackson
November 21, 2006

Minister of Culture,
Governor,
Haut Prefecture,
Ambassadors,
International experts,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies & gentlemen:

I am honored to be here today to help officially open the museum and archeological site of Oursi hu-beero.  The U.S. Embassy helped fund this project through a grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, which is a vital component of U.S. public diplomacy.  This fund demonstrates our commitment to our global heritage and to the cultural traditions of other people.  We are proud to be able to support projects such as the conservation and excavation project here in Oursi hu-beero.  Through our involvement we are learning more about the rich cultural heritage of Burkina Faso and at the same time assisting local development. 

Through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, the U.S. is helping developing countries to preserve their historic sites and manuscripts, museum collections, and traditional forms of expression such as music, dance, and language.  In creating the program in 2001, Congress noted, “ Cultural preservation offers an opportunity to show a different American face to other countries, one that is non-commercial, non-political, and non-military.  By taking a leading role in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, we show our respect for other cultures by protecting their traditions.”

To date, the Ambassador’s Fund has supported 292 projects worldwide, totaling $6.7 million.  Africa has received the largest share with 27% of overall funding.  Funded projects include technical support for the restoration of historic buildings; assessment and conservation of museum collections; and archaeological site preservation, such as the one here in Oursi.  Other projects include documentation to save threatened traditional crafts; improved storage conditions for archives and manuscripts; recording oral history; and documentation of indigenous languages. 

We have supported three programs in Burkina Faso.  In 2001, the U.S. Embassy supported the restoration of the Royal Palace of Kourouma, one of Burkina Faso’s architectural jewels dating back to the 19th century.  The palace, which was almost in ruins, is a witness to Burkina’s glorious past and a source of pride for the inhabitants of the area.  It has now come back to life.

In 2004, we funded this project in Oursi to excavate, conserve and highlight the importance of Oursi hu-beero, one of the most important sites for medieval archeology in West Africa dating from the 10th century AD. 

And this year, we are just now launching a project to preserve the oral histories of the Senufo people in Western Burkina Faso.

These types of cultural preservation programs would not be possible without the consent, cooperation and guidance of the Government of Burkina Faso, in particular the Ministry of Culture and local authorities. 

The United States is proud to have collaborated with the other international donors here today, international experts such as Christoph Pelzer, and the Government of Burkina Faso and the people of region in this effort to preserve the cultural heritage of Burkina Faso.

As the Mossi proverb so well expresses “”Nuug yend ka wouked zoom yé » 

A single hand cannot pick up the flour. 

In otherwords, it is well known that when nations work together, there is no limit to what can be accomplished.

Thank you.