Country Summary for NIGER
Definitions
“Archaeological Excavations”— Any research aiming to discover objects that could be of paleontological, prehistoric, artistic or archaeological interest. Archaeological excavations may involve such activities as digging in the ground, systematic exploration of ground surface, or work in the bedrock or waterways. (Law No. 97-002, Art. 6)
“Assemblages”— Groups of separate or reunited constructions which, because of their architecture, unity or integration in the landscape, are considered important for historic, aesthetic, technical or anthropological reasons. (Law No. 97-002, Art. 4)
“Cultural Goods”— Religious or secular moveable or immoveable goods which are considered Monuments, or belong to one of the following categories:
- Objects related to the history of ancient empires and kingdoms and traditional chiefdoms;
- Arabic or ancient ajami manuscripts;
- Traditional furniture: stepladders, chairs, seats, cushions, headrests, frames and pillars, wooden or stone bed frames;
- Ancient: dance ornaments; statues, statuettes or dolls; doors, shudders, locks, and scrolled posts; cult objects; plates; saddles and equestrian trappings and miscellany; textiles and leather; and also,
- Utensils; objects related to traditional chiefdoms; certain categories of arms; certain categories of musical instruments; traditional and ancient games and toys
(Decree No. 97-407, Art. 33; Law No. 97-002, Art. 3)
“Cultural Heritage” — Monuments, assemblages and sites as defined in Law No. 97-002 (Law No. 97-002, Art. 2)
“Monuments”— Religious or secular moveable or immoveable goods which exhibit an element of importance for paleontology, archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science and which belong to one of the following categories:
- Rare zoological, botanical, mineral, or anatomical collections and specimens; objects exhibiting paleontological interest;
- Goods relating to history…as well as objects having to do with the lives of leaders, thinkers, geniuses and national artists and those relating to events of national importance;
- Products of excavations and archaeological discoveries, notably paleontological deposits, archaeological structures, cave dwellings and any other archaeological objects of import;
- Elements coming from the dismemberment of artistic or historic monuments or archaeological sites;
- Antique objects such as inscriptions, currency and engraved seals;
- Ethnological material;
- Goods of artistic interest such as:
- Rare or early-printed manuscripts, books, documents and ancient publications of special interest (historic, artistic, scientific, literary, etc.), either separate or as part of collections,
- Paintings and drawings done entirely by hand in any medium (excluding industrial drawings and manufactured items that are decorated by hand),
- Original productions of statuary art and sculpture, in any medium,
- Original engravings, seals and works of lithography,
- Original assemblages and montages in any medium,
- Postal stamps, fiscal stamps or their equivalent, either separate or as part of a collection,
- Archives, including phonographic, photographic, cinematographic, technical and multimedia archives,
- Furnishings and ancient musical instruments.
“Sites”— Manmade works or works resulting from nature and human addition, as well as zones, including archaeological sites which are designated important because of their historic, esthetic, ethnological, anthropological, paleontological or archaeological import. (Law No. 97-002, Art. 5)
Relevant State Agencies
The National Council of Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage shall be consulted on:
- Any proposal of classification of monuments, assemblages and sites;
- Any plan to transfer classified monuments, assemblages and sites;
- Any operation which may destroy, displace, restore or modify any of the above, in any manner. (Law No. 97-002, Art. 23-24)
The Minister of Culture shall explain, by legal order upon advice conforming to the National Council of Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage (described in Law No. 97-022 of June 30, 1997), and shall implement a procedure that identifies cultural goods. The Minister shall furthermore establish a national inventory of these goods, monuments, assemblages and sites such as they are defined by law.
Any registration in the National Inventory of Cultural Goods is decided by legal order of the Minister of Culture, upon advice conforming to the National Council of Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage. (Decree No. 97-407, Art. 2)
The Minister of Culture shall establish and update a list of classified goods for each category of property (monuments, assemblages and sites).
(Decree No. 97-407, Art. 7)
for Cultural Property Mr Adamou Danladi
National Director of Cultural Heritage
Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Arts
Avenue de la Mairie NB-10
BP 351
Niger Tourisme.gouv@yahoo.fr
www.tourisme.gouv.ne
Tel: +227 96 98 32 23 / 20 73 65 23