Challenges
Cultural expressions and indigenous language communications are intertwined with cultural identity and dignity, building the socio-cultural foundation of communities and enriching global cultural diversity. Namibia prides itself on a rich cultural diversity which is celebrated annually at selected cultural events yet lacks an established cultural industry and entrepreneurship that promotes livelihood through artistic creations. The creation of favourable conditions for digital empowerment, media and digital cultural productions, alongside other expressions in indigenous languages has been identified as a priority among the different generations.
The Donkerbos Ju/'hoansi community has co-created a Virtual Reality (VR) experience of their traditional dance, /Hi//Ka//Kusi, a dance of rain, food, and prosperity, accompanied by a song of laughter. This dance, primarily performed by the women of the community, embodies their cultural values of joy, unity, and gratitude. The VR experience preserves and promotes the Ju/'hoan language, as the song and interactions are presented in the community's native tongue, ensuring the survival of their linguistic traditions. It also safeguards the indigenous knowledge embedded in the dance, capturing its significance as a communal celebration and cultural expression. Through this collaborative effort, the community has created an immersive way to document and pass on their heritage to future generations while maintaining its cultural authenticity.
The Community Broadcast Project is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering the Donkerbos community by creating podcasts through content creation platforms like Anchor Network. The project seeks to address socio-political challenges through sharing oral traditions and discussing issues of a local community with a wider rapidly transforming society. The primary goal is to provide an alternative to traditional journalism, enabling community members to share their content and have a meaningful voice in the public sphere. The community broadcast platform, an integral part of the project, allows individuals to create and share various media content, including audio, video, pictures, and text. This platform serves as a means to disseminate cultural heritage practices, indigenous knowledge, everyday stories from the bush, and media political statements, engaging a wider audience in a dialogue for socio-cultural justice and safeguarding cultural heritage, including indigenous languages.