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.