Iuze Mukube

Digitisation and the preservation of cultural heritage through education, are essential to sustain cultural legacy in Namibia, while also harnessing the various opportunities from the sector.

These sentiments were highlighted during a two-day Creative Entrepreneurship Academic Conference held in Windhoek recently under the theme ‘The Role of Education in Preserving and Digitising Cultural Heritage’.

Higher education minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi said the goal of the conference was to create awareness about heritage-based and creative economy entrepreneurship, while applying digital technology and also engaging the youth.

“It is a known fact that our youth, who will participate in this programme, are expected to acquire knowledge about product development, entrepreneurship, the circular economy, and digital technologies,” she said.

She added: “It has also offered a springboard for innovation in developing cultural and creative industries, from safeguarding tangible and living heritage to promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, and the development of sustainable cultural tourism”.

Regarding the significance of digitising cultural heritage, Gernot Piepmeyer, the director and secretary general of the Namibian National Commission for UNESCO, said it is important to digitise cultural heritage as the world is rapidly changing and people constantly moving towards better opportunities.

“So, it is very important, with this constant flux of our Namibian community that our traditional soul, and original culture, is firstly digitalised so that we can have a record of it. Secondly, by having a record of it, we practice the culture, because, as the saying goes, we will remember a song by singing it, not by hearing it,” he said.

Piepmeyer continued: “We will have the next generation knowing how to practice various traditions. This is because we will have these old traditions, like the art of making clothes and artefacts, on record.”

Eunice Smith, the head of UNESCO in Namibia, said digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for the preservation, accessibility, and sharing of cultural heritage.

“Through digitisation, we can create virtual museums, engage in interactive storytelling experiences, and build educational platforms. We can also bridge the gap between cultures, and foster intercultural dialogue.”

To accomplish this, she said: “We need a deep understanding of cultural contexts, ethical considerations and the potential impact on communities, which demand collaboration between heritage experts, technologists, educators, and young people.”

The Museums Association of Namibia research assistant Hileni Ameinge said the association is   holding discussions on how to digitise cultural heritage within the education stream and how it can be accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world.

“We believe that integrating digital technology, culture, and heritage into a unified educational system is essential to ensure the legacy lasts for a very long time,” she said.-mukubeiuze@gmail.com