With two national parks inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, Gabon boasts a rich cultural diversity influenced by its various ethnic groups, its history and its varied landscapes. The country is home to 13 national parks, representing around 11% of its territory, and a unique biodiversity.
Located on the coast of Central Africa, Gabon boasts a rich cultural diversity influenced by its various ethnic groups, its colonial history and its varied landscapes. Gabon is a crossroads of cultures where several ethnic groups live side by side, each with its own traditions and rites. Among the major ethnic groups are the Fang, Punu, Nzebi and Myènè. Initiatory rites, such as Bwiti, practised by the Fang and Mitsogho, play a central role in Gabonese spirituality. The country’s cultural traditions are enriched by its linguistic and ethnic diversity.
Enhancing this cultural and natural heritage is not his challenge. We need to retain it, and that’s very important. Globalisation and increasing urbanisation are threatening certain ancestral traditions. This risks relegating them to oblivion. What’s more, the preservation of natural sites must constantly go hand in hand with economic pressures and development needs.
Freddy MOUSSANDA , Journalist
Gabon currently has two jewels on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, namely the Lopé National Park and the Ivindo National Park, which will be inscribed in 2021 at the 44th enlarged session of the World Heritage Committee. This Central African country is home to 13 national parks, representing around 11% of its territory, and a unique biodiversity.
Gabon has remarkable cultural and natural assets. Preserving and promoting this heritage requires a collective effort that must combine respect for traditions with adaptation to contemporary realities, and only in this way can we ensure that it is passed on to future generations, which is a real challenge in my opinion.
Freddy MOUSSANDA , Journalist
Gabonese culture is a unique fusion of ancestral traditions and modernity, with a particular emphasis on music, dance, crafts and the relationship with nature. These elements reflect a vibrant and diverse society. Current initiatives by the Gabonese authorities, although still tentative, augur well for the future of this key sector.
