Rwanda joined the world in marking the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on Tuesday, October 27, with officials calling on institutions to strengthen digitisation efforts to preserve historical records.

The event, organised by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, brought together archivists from various government institutions to discuss the importance of preserving audiovisual materials, challenges in archival work and the use of digital technologies to safeguard historical records. Rwanda has observed the audiovisual day since 2021.

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Tuesday's discussions highlighted that preserving audiovisual heritage goes beyond cultural records and memory of the Genocide against the Tutsi, stressing that institutions across different sectors also need to safeguard information documenting their activities and history.

The discussion also emphasised that digital heritage preservation begins with physical records, which serve as the foundation for digitisation. Institutions were therefore urged to properly preserve their physical archives to facilitate their transition into digital formats.

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Marie Claude Uwineza, Director of the National Archives, said the annual event provides an opportunity for institutions and other organisations to reflect on the importance of preserving their heritage.

Uwineza said assessments conducted by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy in various organisations and government institutions had revealed shortcomings in the storage of written documents and audiovisual materials.

"During our visits, we found that some materials were not being kept professionally. Some photographs were stored in cold places where they could be damaged, while others had accumulated dust, which also damages them,” she said.

She added that some staff responsible for archives lacked the knowledge and skills needed to handle audiovisual materials properly.

Uwineza emphasised that such records are valuable because they document the activities and history of institutions.

"When an institution launches a new project, photographs and other visual records should be taken and preserved properly because they become part of that institution's history,” she said.

She called on institutions to improve storage conditions and train archive staff to equip them with the knowledge needed to perform their duties effectively.

Uwineza also encouraged institutions to adopt digital systems for preserving information, describing digitisation as a sustainable way of safeguarding audiovisual heritage.

However, she noted that digitisation requires financial investment to acquire the necessary software and systems, urging institutions to allocate budgets for the preservation of their records.

She said progress had been made since the campaign began, with some institutions improving how they preserve historical materials.

"When we started this campaign, we would find photographs containing important information stored in sacks and envelopes. But when we returned to those institutions later, we saw improvements,” she said.

Aude Kamanzi, who is in charge of research and archives at Kigali Genocide Memorial, said materials such as videos, audio recordings and photographs documenting past events are valuable resources that needed to be preserved.

She noted that the country had various archives containing records related to cultural heritage and the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi, adding that efforts are needed to ensure audiovisual materials are preserved before they deteriorate.

"Some of these materials are kept physically, while others are stored digitally. We need to preserve this heritage so that young people and future generations can learn about the country's history and culture,” she said.

Kamanzi added that audiovisual heritage preservation should not be limited to the Kigali Genocide Memorial or institutions dedicated to cultural heritage, but should also be embraced by all institutions.

Jean Baptiste Bahizi Kennedy, an archivist at the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), said institutions needed to recognise the value of their archives and include archival preservation in their budget planning by allocating funds and providing the necessary materials.

He emphasised that archives must be properly preserved so they remain accessible and can serve as evidence when needed to resolve issues.

Valerie Mukamurenzi, an archivist at MINUBUMWE, called on institutions to take greater responsibility for managing their archives.

"We need to preserve this information for future use, as it may be used in research and help future generations understand how things were done before their time,” she said.

She called on heads of institutions to recognise the value of archives and allocate adequate budgets for their preservation.

The activities will continue on Wednesday, October 28, with archivists from various institutions visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi to learn how archives are preserved and used.