Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
OIMAP
OIMAP
International Organisation
for the Art Market and Heritage
24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Member States

Africa

Eleven African Member States, a regional office in Nairobi and programmes focused on heritage protection and training.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

Pages in this section

Mask (ndeemba) (early 1900s)Member countries in AfricaThe eleven African Member States of OIMAP, with their year of accession and the means of reaching their national focal point.› Beaded Necklace (c. 1900)Nairobi officeOIMAP's regional office for Africa: missions, team, services to Member States and contact details.› Male Figure (Nkisi) (late 1800s-early 1900s)Programmes in AfricaThe training, restitution and cooperation programmes conducted with the eleven African Member States.›

Eleven States, a heritage to protect

Alpine Landscape: The Handegg, Switzerland, Jean-Léon Gérôme (1850s)
Alpine Landscape: The Handegg, Switzerland, Jean-Léon Gérôme (1850s)

Africa accounts for eleven of OIMAP's 67 Member States. Four of them, Kenya, Senegal, Morocco and Egypt, are founding States of 2007. The other seven joined between 2021 and 2023.

The continent is concerned above all with protecting its heritage against illicit exports and with developing structured markets. Together with Latin America, it represents 3% of the world market.

This section presents the member countries, the Nairobi office and the regional programmes.

  • Africa
  • Member States
  • Nairobi

Africa in figures

11Member States
4Founding States
7Accessions since 2021
NairobiRegional office

Source: Member States Relations Directorate.

Distribution

Founders (2007)4 States
Accessions 20213 States
Accessions 20222 States
Accessions 20232 States

Breakdown of the eleven States by period of accession.

A long-standing presence, recent growth

Kenya, Senegal, Morocco and Egypt are among the 23 pioneers of 2007. For more than ten years, no other African State joined the Organisation.

The movement resumed in 2021 with Tunisia, South Africa and Ghana, then continued in 2022 and 2023.

Power figure (nkisi) (late 1800s-early 1900s)
Power figure (nkisi) (late 1800s-early 1900s)
Temple of Athene Nike. Venus Victrix—Wingless Victory, Dimitrios Constantin (c. 1850s–60s)
Temple of Athene Nike. Venus Victrix—Wingless Victory, Dimitrios Constantin (c. 1850s–60s)
Mask (early 1900s, before 1933–37)
Mask (early 1900s, before 1933–37)

Priorities specific to the continent

For many African States, the primary issue is the fight against trafficking in cultural property and the return of objects that left illegally. Other members, such as South Africa and Morocco, also have growing sales markets.

The programmes take this diversity into account and do not rely on a single model.

The role of the Nairobi office

The Nairobi office is the Organisation's regional relay. It hosts training workshops, supports focal points and follows up cooperation requests.

It works with regional organisations and national museums, under cooperation agreements.

Languages and coverage areas

The region includes French-speaking, English-speaking and Arabic-speaking States. Exchanges take place in French and English, with translated materials for focal points.

The office plans its activities taking distances and time zones into account, combining online sessions with on-site missions.

The eleven Member States

Reference list
StateMembership
Kenya2007 (founder)
Senegal2007 (founder)
Morocco2007 (founder)
Egypt2007 (founder)
Tunisia2021
South Africa2021
Ghana2021
Côte d'Ivoire2022
Nigeria2022
Ethiopia2023
Cameroon2023

Milestones

  1. Four founders

    Kenya, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt.

  2. Three accessions

    Tunisia, South Africa, Ghana.

  3. Two accessions

    Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria.

  4. Ethiopia and Cameroon

    Most recent accessions on the continent.

A regional contact

Abalone Divers off the Coast of Ise, from an Untitled Landscape Series, Utagawa Kunisada (early 1830s)
Abalone Divers off the Coast of Ise, from an Untitled Landscape Series, Utagawa Kunisada (early 1830s)
View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara, Philipp Hackert (1803)
View of the Gulf of Pozzuoli from Solfatara, Philipp Hackert (1803)
Pair of Figures (late 1800s–early 1900s)
Pair of Figures (late 1800s–early 1900s)

Two ways into the section

River Landscape with Boats, Annibale Carracci (c. 1590)

By country

The eleven States
  • Years of accession
  • Focal points
  • Country Profiles

To learn about a State.

Palm Wine Vessel (kuh mendu) (1900s)

By programme

Regional actions
  • Training
  • Restitution
  • Customs cooperation

To act at continental level.

Explore the section

  1. Consult

    The list of member countries.

  2. Locate

    The Nairobi office.

  3. Choose

    A regional programme.

  4. Reach

    The national focal point.

  5. Follow up

    Regional meetings.

To prepare an exchange with the region

An African focal point

Châteauvieux-sur-Suran, Antoine-Claude Ponthus-Cinier (1848)
« The Nairobi office knows us and knows our constraints. It helps us frame requests that Headquarters can process quickly. »
Amina Diallo, national focal point (example)

Regional vocabulary

Founder
Member State since 2007.
Restitution
Return of a work to its State of origin.
Focal point
National department designated to liaise with OIMAP.
Regional office
Outpost away from Headquarters.

Relationship with Headquarters

As in other regions, decisions on membership, the scale of contributions or suspension rest with the Organisation's bodies in Paris. The Nairobi office reviews cases and provides support.

This rule guarantees identical treatment for all members, including the most recent.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many African States are members?

Eleven, of which four are founders.

Where is the regional office?

In Nairobi.

Where can I find the list?
Whom should I contact?

The Nairobi office.

Useful Documents

Contacts

Architectural Conference (c. 1622)
Architectural Conference (c. 1622)
Member States Relations DirectorateParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 08 00membres@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

See the member countries

Face Mask (early 1900s)

The eleven States and their years of accession.

Member countries
Image credits (20)
▲