Challenges to Digitizing the African Heritage: Some Reflections

Abstract

The advent of information and communication technologies (ICTs) tools has enabled possibilities for the digitization of the African heritage. Digitization of the African heritage makes it easier to share and access digital information across the world using different ICT tools. In as much as digitization has enabled the African Heritage to be converted from text, audio and images into digital format leading to improved preservation of cultural and historical materials, this is not without challenges. The critical challenge emanates from whether it is the ICT or the people who have to determine the material which qualifies to be the African heritage. Another equally important challenge is whether digitizing the African heritage will not be seen as intrusive into places which have been seen and revered as sacred. There is then the challenge of overcoming a hurdle which develops when ICT is expected to take over and to replace traditional practices of preserving and providing access to African heritage. The prospect of introducing new technology into a traditionalist environment may pose a problem if the traditionalists view the technology as trying to change the way they have been relaying their history and traditional practices. For example, the oral tradition of telling stories around the fire will now lose the setting and ambience that this tradition created. Here the medium of communication is changed; the connection with the audience is also modified as well as immediate feedback. The last challenge relates to the authenticity of digitized heritage. This paper seeks to discuss the above challenges. It does so with conviction that digitizing the African heritage is not just about converting material from analogue into digital format but encompasses its acceptance and use. The acceptance and use will be achievable only when the above challenges are appreciated and ways found to address them.