ROCK ART IN BORKOU-ENNEDI-TIBESTI: MEMORY AND MEMORIES

Author: Nangkara Clison

ABSTRACT

Ancestors left traces on rock faces in northern Chad (Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti) and in the Guéra mountains. These consist of rock engravings and paintings created by people who lived there in the past. Most Chadians are unaware that rock art constitutes their heritage—a legacy bequeathed by their ancestors. Any human creation should be regarded as heritage and valued accordingly. The aim of this paper is to present Chad’s rock art as an ancestral legacy worthy of protection and preservation—not only for future generations but also as a shared memory for all Chadians. Methodologically, we conducted four field missions between 2011 and 2012 to verify the actual existence of this rare heritage and to attempt to interpret the messages the ancestors left to their descendants through this art. The fieldwork supplemented earlier information provided in archaeological writings. These three regions (Borkou, Ennedi, and Tibesti) feature rock art that Chadians are increasingly recognizing as their own heritage, thanks to awareness-raising campaigns conducted by authorities at various levels.

Keywords: rock art, ancestors, heritage recognition, memories, Chad.

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