Digital Preservation of Heritage for Crisis Prevention, Peacebuilding, and Youth Empowerment: Insights from Ombatse Crisis : Long Paper - iPRES 2025 - Wellington, New Zealand / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa
Abstract
Much has been written in several literatures affirming that the digital preservation of cultural heritage in contexts marked by inter-ethnic conflict is not merely an archival imperative, but an ethical and socio-political act. Communities affected by such crises frequently suffer the disappearance of both tangible heritage and the intangible frameworks of rituals, oral traditions, and collective memory that sustain cultural identity and intergenerational continuity. In light of the enduring threats posed by conflict-induced displacement and cultural fragmentation in Eggon community of Nasarawa State where over 500 lives including 84 security personnel were lost, this study was undertaken with the overarching aim of establishing conditions for the systematic digitization and safeguarding of endangered cultural heritage for present and future generations. This objective was pursued through an evaluative assessment of the institutional readiness of Libraries and cultural centres in the region, employing the Digital Preservation Coalition Rapid Assessment Model (DPC RAM). The study advocates the application of the six foundational elements of the DPC RAM as a baseline for initiating sustainable digital preservation strategies that are responsive to local realities and capable of supporting youth engagement, peacebuilding, and cultural revitalization. The Ombatse crisis serves as the focal point for this inquiry. Findings indicate that several structural impediments persist, including the absence of coherent preservation policies, inadequate technical infrastructure, limited digital competencies among heritage custodians, and a lack of meaningful collaboration between cultural institutions and local communities. These constraints underscore the critical necessity for context-sensitive, participatory preservation frameworks that not only secure digital surrogates but foster cultural resilience and epistemic justice in societies emerging from conflict.Details
- Creators
- Elijah Olawale Azeez; Aparna Subramanian
- Institutions
- Date
- 2025-09-01 00:00:00 +0000
- Keywords
- digital humanities
- Publication Type
- paper
- License
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- Download
- 172254 bytes