But can ICT truly preserve and protect distinct identities and culture? Does ICT by its very intervention introduce an element of westernization amidst the indigenous culture that it purports to preserve and protect? What is the optimum balance between preserving traditional knowledge and embracing remix culture? The cultural debate surrounding deployment of ICT in the field of indigenous/ knowledge and culture simply refuses to die down.

Read full article at Global Voices Online.

The Ulwazi Programme features on the Archival Platform in a guest post by consultant Niall McNulty.

The Archival Platform is a networking, advocacy and research initiative. They use the word “archive” to refer not only to records or books in archives and libraries, but also to memory, cultural practice and places that tell the stories of the past. The Archival Platform’s aim is to facilitate dialogue and information sharing between professionals, academics and government employees in the heritage and archive sector.

• Click here to read the post Archiving the East Coast …

One of Durban’s most valuable cultural hubs, the Phansi Museum, is launching a myriad fabulous initiatives.

Situated in a Victorian home in the leafy suburb of Glenwood, Phansi Museum is launching their iconic annual calendar; the opening of the BAT shop; a new music label and inaugural CD; strategic partnerships and a new travelogue.

The simultaneous launch of these innovative cultural projects is no mean feat for an independent unsubsidised museum and heritage custodian. The museum houses some of the most interesting, rare and comprehensive collections of African art and artefacts to be found in the continent, and constantly updates and refreshes its collection and strategic partnerships to remain interesting and current.
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Please join KZN Literary Tourism for their annual end of year function on Saturday the 5th December, from 9.30 until 11.30.  They are having a morning tea party in the beautiful grounds of Inanda Seminary and will also be launching the INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) Writers Trail, which they have been working on with the eThekwini Municipality this year.

Tea and eats will be provided, Creative INK (a poetry and writers collective’) will perform and the school museum will be open.  The Seminary is one of the stops on the INK Writers Trail.

Safe parking on school grounds. RSVP to niall@literarytourism.co.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

What are you doing this weekend?

Durbanites and tourists are invited to come and connect at the Umkhumbane Flea Market – the City’s exciting new grassroots trading spot, where the traditional meets the contemporary. The market promises to be vibey with a variety of things to do and see in safe and pleasant surroundings.

The market is named after the Umkhumbane River which flows past the well-located site on the corner of Bellair and Booth Roads next to the Sasol Garage. It’s a short drive from the University along Francois Road or past the Pavilion from the Westville side.

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