The UNESCO Chair in Digital Technology Design with Indigenous People, together with international partners, is exploring ways to use digital technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR) and interactive games, to preserve Ju/'hoansi culture and language.
The initiative aims to connect Ju/'hoansi speakers across Namibia while introducing young people in Tsumkwe to digital tools that can help preserve their cultural heritage.
Since 2017, NUST and the Donkerbos community have used Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to digitise and preserve indigenous knowledge, languages, and cultural practices.
The team is now engaging with young people, elders and teachers in Tsumkwe to introduce some of these projects and explore opportunities for similar collaborations.
Selma Auala is UNESCO's Chair for Digital Technology Design with Indigenous People-Technology and Community Coordinator.
"We are here to explore with the Tsumkwe youth, some elders and teachers how Donkerbos has been able to do this and how Tsumkwe can also work with us in developing these games. Our bigger aim is to ensure that indigenous knowledge and cultural beliefs are also incorporated into schools. We are therefore using technology to help bridge that gap."
She further explained that the games should be developed with the community, particularly to benefit younger generations by allowing them to learn in their own language and experience traditional practices through VR.
These may include hunting games and other activities that introduce children to traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Acting Principal of #Ama Primary School, Festus Soroab, believes that traditional stories into educational games could improve learners' understanding, communication and ability to express themselves.
"When these games are implemented and a child sees what is happening in a story through pictures or even dramatisation, it helps the child understand the story better. They will know the characters, the people involved and what happens from the beginning. They will also understand the moral of the story better than when they are simply taught. Once a child experiences it as a game, it becomes much easier for them."
"The good thing about these games is that they will be very important for future generations. As we know, some of us grew up missing out on a lot of our culture and traditions. These games will help children learn and avoid forgetting their culture. Through games such as hunting, they will be able to learn and see how these activities are done," expressed Tsumkwe youth and Xashe Mondestus.
The initiative could provide an opportunity for the Ju/'hoansi community to use modern technology to pass indigenous knowledge, language and traditions on to future generations.