The the world commemorates World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27, 2025, a subtle crisis is emerging in Kenya that warrants attention.
This narrative revolves around delicate tapes and fading rcollections, invaluable recordings that encapsulate the essence of the nation’s history.
These are not merely antiquated reels collecting dust; they represent the voices of ancestors, the joy of independence celebrations, the rhythms of coastal dances, and the resonances of rural storytelling. However, without immediate intervention, thesenvaluable assets face the risk of vanishing forever, leaving future generations with a silent void where history once thrived.
Envision a collection of tapes stored in a poorly lit room, filled with the crackling sounds of freedom songs sung during the independence struggle or grainy films depicting the lively markets of Nairobi in the 190s.
These audiovisual archives serve as portals into the identity of Kenyans, showcasing their cultures, languages, and collective challenges. They narrate tales of unity across the highlands and the coast, of resilience in the face of droughts, and of victories in sports. Yet, many of these recordings are deteriorating. The magnetic tape deteriorates over time, and without adequate preservation, the voices and images contained within will disappear, taking with them a fragment of Kenya’s identity.
A global alert, a local imperative
This day, recognized worldwide since 2007, serves as a reminder that over 90 percent of audiovisual heritage is at risk of being lost due to neglect and technological obsolescence.
In Kenya, the situation is even more urgent.
Unlike paper records, which can endure for centuries if properly stored, these tapes necessitate specific conditions, including cool temperatures, low humidity, and modern equipment for playback or duplication.
Many are kept in environments where the heat and dust of the climate are gradually degrading their quality. Even more concerning, the machines required to access them are becoming increasingly rare as technology advances, leaving behind an ever-growing collection of unreadable history.
The positive aspect is that there exists a method to safeguard these treasures: digitisation. Converting these tapes into digital files allows for their preservation for centuries and enables sharing with everyone, from schoolchildren in rural areas to urban residents browsing online. It presents an opportunity to hear a grandfather’s story in a long-forgotten dialect or to view a black-and-white dance performance that inspired an entire generation.
However, this process is not progressing swiftly enough. It is an expensive endeavor, necessitating scanners, computers, and skilled individuals to manage the delicate materials. Without increased efforts, time will prevail, erasing narratives that could educate about our roots and foster a stronger, more interconnected future.
A call to preserve Kenya’s living memory
This is where everyone plays a role. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is not solely for specialists; it is a call to every Kenyan to take an interest in the past.
Envision entering a community center where children can view archival footage of their village’s inaugural school opening or listen to songs that once united people during challenging times. These archives could serve as a source of pride, a connection between generations, and even enhance tourism as visitors seek to explore Kenya’s rich cultural heritage.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) underscores that audiovisual archives narrate stories about the lives and cultures of people from across the globe.
“They embody a priceless heritage that affirms our collective memory and serves as a valuable source of knowledge, reflecting the cultural, social, and linguistic diversity of our communities,” UNESCO observes. “They assist us in growing and understanding the world we all inhabit.”
Preserving this heritage and ensuring its accessibility to the public and future generations is a crucial objective for all memory institutions and the general public alike.
The UNESCO Archives initiated the project Digitising Our Shared UNESCO History with this aim, to safeguard and provide access to invaluable audiovisual materials that document.
The 1980 adoption of the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images is also honored on World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. It offers a chance to recognize the significance of audiovisual documents and to draw attention to the need for immediate action.
Kenya needs to address its own shortcomings in maintaining its audiovisual legacy as the world looks back on this day. Thousands of hours of national history could be lost forever if immediate investments in digitization and preservation are not made. More tapes deteriorate beyond repair every day that goes by without any action. Kenya must decide on this World Day whether to preserve its stories for future generations or allow them to fade into obscurity.
One digital memory at a time, preserving the country’s audiovisual legacy is about making sure the future knows where it came from, not just about nostalgia.
