United States (U.S.) Mission Celebrates 3D Documentation of Busanyin Shrine at Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove – African Business

The 3D documentation of Busanyin Shrine (one of eight monuments within Osun-Osogbo Grove) has been completed.

The U.S. supported the project. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), the project titled, “Digital Documentation, Training and Conservation Planning for National Heritage Busanyin Shrine within the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove” was awarded to CyArk, a California-based nonprofit.

The U.S. Consul General Will Stevens explained at the Osogbo public presentation that 3D documentation of Busanyin Shrine gives the best record of current conditions to plan a restoration project.

He thanked CyArk Adunni Olorisa Trust, CyArk and their local partners for their hard work in preserving a valuable national heritage. He also praised their efforts in training local professionals to improve their digital documentation skills and cultural Heritage management.

“The United States Mission to Nigeria has a long history of supporting the protection and preservation of Nigerian cultural heritage through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation,” Consul General Stevens said. “We have funded over $ 1 million for preservation projects across Nigeria through the AFCP in the last 10 years.”

The public presentation was attended both by Nigerian graduates of U.S. government programs, senior government officials, media executives, representatives of cultural institutions and officials of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Additional AFCP projects include documentation in conservation of 14th-century Sungbo Eredo soilworks in the Yoruba Ijebu Kingdom of southwest Nigeria; documentation in Oyo State of Ifa oral tradition; and rock art preservation in Cross River, Jigawa and other states.

The U.S. Congress established the AFCP program in 2001 to aid countries in cultural heritage preservation and demonstrate American respect for other cultures.

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria continues to explore opportunities to support the preservation of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage using the AFCP and other partnership mechanisms.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria.