Konso Cultural Landscape Ethiopia

Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km2 arid properties of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia. It constitutes a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years) adapted to its dry hostile environment. The landscape demonstrates the shared values, social cohesion and engineering knowledge of its communities. The site also features anthropomorphic wooden statues - grouped to represent respected members of their communities and particularly heroic events - which are an exceptional living testimony to funerary traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. Stone steles in the towns express a complex system of marking the passing of generations of leaders.

Konso Cultural Landscape
Continent: Africa
Country: Ethiopia
Category: Cultural
Criterion: (III)(IV)
Date of Inscription: 2011

Konso Town

Konso is a town on the Sagan River in southwestern Ethiopia. Konso, named after the Konso people, is known for its religious traditions, waga sculptures, and nearby fossil beds. The administrative centre of the Konso is special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region and an elevation of 1650 meters. It is also called Pakawle by some of the neighbouring inhabitants.

Konso Cultural Landscape Heritage
Konso Cultural Traditional Gate

Browse Gallery Plus UNESCO Storyline

Konso landscape is a cultural Heritage

The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on September 30, 1997 due to its purported universal cultural significance and official made a World Heritage Site in 2011. Local industries include beekeeping, cotton weaving, and agriculture. The market is held on Mondays and Thursdays at a point 2 kilometers from town along the Jinka Road.

A permaculture farm, Strawberry Fields Eco-Lodge, was founded in 2007 north of town and works with international volunteers and three local schools to grow food, promote ecotourism, and provide permaculture education.

Slideshow for this Heritage Site


Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in . The original UNESCO inscription Here!!!

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