Borno govt seeks greater unity through preservation of Kanem-Bornu heritage
By Ahmed Kaigama
The Borno Government has pledged to support initiatives aimed at promoting greater unity and regional integration through the preservation and promotion of the shared heritage of the historic Kanem-Bornu Empire.
Alhaji Hassan Bosuma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Regional Integration, made the commitment on Tuesday in Maiduguri at a news conference on a 459-page book titled Les Sommets Kanem Bornu, authored by Mr Aboubakar Nour, a Chadian.
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Bosuma said the shared history and cultural heritage of Kanem-Bornu should be used to strengthen relationships among communities and countries connected to the former empire.
He said the empire, which was centred around Lake Chad, historically covered areas that are now parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and other countries.
According to him, the preservation of the region’s heritage should not be allowed to create divisions among people of different backgrounds.
“Heritage is not simply a memory of the past. It is a reflection of where we came from, where we are today and, above all, where we want to go,” he said.
Bosuma said greater efforts were needed to capture, preserve and transmit the history and cultural heritage of the region to future generations.
He noted that the initiative also provided an opportunity to examine contemporary challenges confronting communities in the Lake Chad Basin and identify practical ways of rebuilding trust and strengthening cooperation.
The special adviser said dialogue, cultural exchanges and preservation of common heritage could contribute significantly to achieving a more united and peaceful region.
He further called for the translation of Les Sommets Kanem Bornu into English to enable more young people to access the knowledge and historical information contained in the book.
Nour said the publication was an opportunity to share knowledge about the common heritage of the people of the former Kanem-Bornu Empire.
He said the region’s shared history should serve as a foundation for unity, mutual understanding and cooperation rather than division.