American people sponsor Kilwa Kisiwani preservation project

Pictured (from right) are Mr. Donatius Kamamba, Director of the Tanzania Antiquities Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; Mr. Stephen Battle, Program Director, Sub-Saharan Africa for World Monuments Fund; Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Robert K. Scott and Mr. John Kimaro, Assistant Director at the Tanzania Antiquities Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; during a check presentation ceremony held at the U.S Embassy in Dar es Salaam. (Photo courtesy of the American Embassy)

On September 7, 2011, Deputy Chief of Mission Robert K. Scott presented on behalf of the American People a USD 700,000.00 (1,132,000,000.00 Tanzanian shillings) grant to the World Monuments Fund (WMF) to support a project titled "Conservation of the Ruins of the 9th-Century City of Kilwa Kisiwani."

The grant, provided under the U.S. Department of State's Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) large grant program, is the single largest cultural preservation funding offered by the U.S. to Tanzania, and supports public interest to preserve Kilwa Kisiwani.

The project will be implemented in partnership with the Tanzania Antiquities Division to preserve one of East Africa's most important heritage sites, as well as to empower local communities to conserve their cultural heritage.