UN says illicit trafficking in cultural property harms Africa's identity

NAIROBI, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Wednesday the illicit trafficking in cultural property harms Africa's identity.

Hubert Gijzen, UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern Africa said in a speech read on his behalf by Misako Ito, the Regional Adviser for Communication and Information for Africa at UNESCO that illicit export of physical cultural objects has been practiced throughout the history of the continent in various forms and with different intentions.