Portrait of Abdoul Aziz Guissé © UNESCO

“I would like to pay tribute to the memory of Abdoul Aziz Guissé and to the immense contribution he made to the safeguarding of african heritage,” said Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture. “His unwavering dedication to cultural heritage has been instrumental in many inscriptions, both of African sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and of living heritage on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” he added.

UNESCO salutes Abdoul Aziz Guissé for his internationally recognized expertise, notably on World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Underwater Cultural Heritage. His commitment to the safeguarding of cultural and natural heritage has not only benefitted local communities he engaged with in his work, but also enabled young professionals from all regions of the world to grow thanks to his passion for transmitting his know-how.

He will remain, in particular, a model heritage expert for the entire African continent. Well-known for his humanism and enthusiasm, he was an effective advocate for African heritage at the highest level, within national cultural institutions such as the Board of Directors of the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar, and intergovernmental forums such as the Intangible Heritage Committee, the World Heritage Committee, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, and the ICCROM Council.

UNESCO extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Abdoul Aziz Guissé and will remember with gratitude his wisdom, leadership and friendship.