Rabat: The Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE) has announced plans to invest in the conservation of the 8,000-year-old Dufuna canoe located in Yobe, as part of efforts to bolster tourism in the state. This development was conveyed by Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, Director-General of Press and Media Affairs for Governor Mai Mala Buni, in a statement from Damaturu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Dufuna canoe is the second-oldest known boat in the world, discovered in 1987 by a Fulani herdsman near the village of Dufuna in the Fune area, close to the Komadugu Gana River. The site was excavated in 1994 by archaeologists Peter Breunig and Garba Abubakar from Frankfurt University, Germany, and University of Maiduguri, respectively. The canoe, measuring 8.4 meters in length, 50 cm in width, and 5 cm in thickness, was found preserved in a waterlogged state on a sandy bed, safeguarded by layers of clay.
The canoe has undergone radiocarbon dating twice, placing its age between 6556-6388 BCE and 6164-6005 BCE. This makes it the oldest known boat in Africa and the second oldest worldwide.
Yassine El Ahyani, Head of Emerging Industries at AMDIE, made the investment pledge during a meeting in Rabat with Alhaji Baba Wali, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Yobe. El Ahyani highlighted the potential of the canoe to significantly impact the state’s economy through tourism and research, stating, “The canoe would turn around the fortunes of the state with massive economic turnover.”
In response, Wali assured that the Yobe government is committed to creating a conducive environment for such investments, aligning with Governor Buni’s policy to generate employment in various sectors such as hospitality and tourism. The initiative aims to enhance the international profile of the Dufuna canoe and other cultural festivals in the state.
The Dufuna canoe, the oldest watercraft in Africa, is a testament to the rich history and heritage of the region. Its conservation and promotion as a tourist attraction reflect the Yobe government’s dedication to preserving cultural artifacts for future generations.