INTRODUCTION

In due recognition of the status and mandate of CBAAC, it was incorporated into the Project and charged with strategic responsibility of spearheading research findings on African heritage in line with the Centre's Pan-African disposition, at the main meeting in Nairobi, Kenya between 23 rd and 24th May, 2006 under the auspices of TARA (Trust for Rock Art – a Kenya based NGO).

CENTRAL THEME
Findings from this exercise reveal:

(i) An extensive distribution of Rock Paintings - otherwise known as MONOLITHS-in the predominantly rocky areas of Nigeria . Some identified sites include: Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State and its environs; Geji, Shyra, Marshall caves and Shadawanka Rock sites – all in Bauchi State , and Iwo Eleru in Ondo State .

•  Each carved stone carries NSIBIDI writing - an ancient writings of the Ejegham peoples of the Bantu stock credited with the Bantu Civilization, and reported to have migrated from the Congo Basin .

•  In the coded pre-historic African writing lies its sophistication.

•  Against the colonialists classification of these writing as “Primitive”, drawings on these stones have been classified as “sophisticated” by experts.

The second phase of the Rock Art workshop project held on 20th -23 rd of January, 2007 in Nairobi , Kenya , was co-chaired by Prof. Tunde Babawale and Dr. George Abungu of Kenya . Six participants of Nigerian extraction were in attendance to make presentation on CBAAC initiative, and supported extensive research studies on Rock Art sites across Nigeria . Leading outcomes of the session include:

•  The challenge of re-writing African history from Afro-centric perspective by scholars;

•  The need to encourage students of African history to focus their writings on African heritage;

•  A call for collaboration among various culture-incline organization of relevance to Black and African peoples;

•  To cover West Africa sub-region, CBAAC and CICIBA of Libreville, Gabon were specifically charged with the responsibility of developing proposal for possible funding for the Rock Art Project.

•  Similarly, TARA was to collaborate with CELTHO, Niger to cover East and Southern Africa .

•  TARA was to coordinate the collation of these proposals and sourcing of the funds for the research exercise.

•  Although, no definite date has been fixed for the next meeting; yet it was suggested that representatives from Central and Southern Africa , not present at the workshop, be briefed as a prelude to their involvement in the project.