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UNESCO and the government collaborate to promote documentary heritage in Tanzania
On Tuesday, 17 July 2024, UNESCO convened a meeting at its office on advancing and promoting documentary heritage in Tanzania. This meeting was held in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports of the United Republic of Tanzania and the African Liberation Heritage Centre (ALHC).
This meeting was officiated by Mr. Michel Toto, UNESCO Head of Office and Representative, and Dr. Suleiman Serera, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports (MoCAS). A number of national experts from UNESCO, MoCAS, Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology (MoICT), UNESCO National Commission (NATCOM) and Africa Liberation Heritage Centre (ALHC), with expertise in the field of documentary and heritage preservation, attended the meeting, which was held with the aim of discussing the production of a documentary that will promote documentary heritage in Tanzania.
Documentary heritage is a crucial part of Tanzania's cultural identity and history. Preserving this heritage is vital for maintaining Tanzania鈥檚 cultural memory. Importantly, documentaries serve as powerful educational tools that can teach current and future generations about their history and culture
Documentary heritage includes any kind of document that can be moved around, encoded with signs, sounds, or images, and that can be saved and copied. This initiative was launched in 1992 with the goal of preserving the world鈥檚 documentary heritage, making it accessible to everyone, and raising awareness of its importance.
Documentary heritage includes documents that are really important to a country's history and culture. In Tanzania, these materials are not just historical records; they are the essence of national identity and an invaluable resource for education and cultural development. Preserving this heritage ensures that future generations inherit a rich, accessible legacy, enhancing their understanding of the past and its relevance to their current and future challenges.
This is a project that unites Africans. There is a challenge in capturing and maintaining documentary heritage. Many documents are in danger of being destroyed
The meeting included a presentation on the Documentary Heritage and the Memory of the World Programme, delivered by Ms Nancy Angulo, UNESCO鈥檚 National Programme Officer for Communication and Information, and Ms Nancy Mwaisaka, UNESCO鈥檚 National Programme Officer for Culture. The presentation provided an in-depth introduction of UNESCO鈥檚 Memory of the World Programme, with a particular focus on its applications in the areas of education, tourism, and outreach, and its relevance to Tanzania. This was followed by a technical discussion on the objectives of this documentary project and the methodology of producing documentaries.
Stakeholders, including government officials and ALHC staff, expressed their commitment to integrating the strategies discussed into their documentary heritage project development. They agreed to convene another meeting to continue working on the project. UNESCO Dar es Salaam Office will continue to provide support and work closely with the Government and the ALHC in preserving the rich heritage and ensuring that the preservation of documentary heritage remains a dynamic part of Tanzania's rich heritage landscape.
