Preserving Heritage: Analog Images from the National Museum of Mali's Audio-Visual Archive

The National Museum of Mali's mission is one of collecting and conserving objects of cultural heritage and disseminating knowledge through exhibitions, public events, and school programs. Since the early 1980s, the museum's field missions have included documentation of performances, events, and traditional artistry through a variety of means, including analog photography. This project aims to digitize a selection of well-documented black and white negatives and color slides from these missions taken by museum photographers. Many of the practices recorded in these images are threatened by current political and economic crises and insecurity in the region, while others have disappeared altogether. Digitizing a curated selection of these archival images and engaging with source communities will provide scholars, teachers, and Mali's future generations a window into Mali's rich cultural patrimony.

Making these materials available through UCLA's library will also provide international educators, curators, and scholars with critical and ethically sourced materials created, collected and curated by Malian professionals, giving the latter credit where credit is long overdue. Encouraging scholars and museums to make use of these resources aligns with ongoing efforts to decolonize scholarly and curatorial practices.