Photography has been one of the lifesavers of cultural memoirs, it brings history alive for as long as we desire, it helps us share particularly our cultural heritage with our loved ones. Photography in cultural preservation is not time-bound; it retains its purpose for years to come. I will share a bit of what cultural heritage is and how photography has helped to preserve so many cultures.
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Cultural heritage is the trait or legacy of a group of people with a distinguished attribute like the native people of a community or a village, by preserving and maintaining the legacies such as the tradition, and the becoming of other generations. It can be said that it describes the way of living by people passed across from one generation to another.
Photography has literally become or been used for historical documentation where it showcases some of the hidden cultural heritage that seems to be long lost. Photography has helped in various ways to preserve time, memories, and our cultural identity and also to preserve indigenous culture.
Importance of Photography in Cultural Preservation
- Digitization: Photography being digitalize can help preserve some of the historical monuments that we have which due to evolution might have gone extinct. The documentation of these monuments like the Great Walls of Benin City, the First Building in Nigeria, Ogbunike Caves, etc. can be digitally archived for future use or references.
- Cultural Heritage: Preserving our distinct cultural values, things that differentiate us as a community and as an individual. It’s more like photographically collecting our arts, people, places, even our lifestyle thereby retaining our uniqueness.
- Educational Value: This gives an opportunity to people who are interested in learning and knowing more about a particular culture more so for generations to come which opens door to learn more about their culture and identity. it’s also another way to preserve palpable and impalpable cultural heritage.
Speaking about cultural heritage, here are some of the monuments that can be found in Nigeria.
The Great Walls of Benin city
The first building in Nigeria
