Preserving indigenous knowledge in culture houses in the digital era in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study was conducted in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe to interrogate the strategies being used to preserve indigenous knowledge, in the face of technological challenges. The researchers sought to ascertain the web presence of such entities and the awareness of indigenous datagovernance principles among information professionals. Qualitative research, using multiple case studies, was conducted. Web content analysis was done to identify such spaces, with four culture houses being purposively selected. Interviews were conducted with the participants who were available on the day of the researchers’ visit when the latter observed each site. The findings showed that all culture houses did not have a web presence, and some administrators were aware of the principles for preserving indigenous knowledge in the digital era. The study recommends that in the future, cultural tourism can be better promoted, and indigenous communities empowered, by enhancing their access to related knowledge to achieve sustainable development goals.