Gladys Kemboi is a PhD candidate in Information Science , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the recipient of the 2024 Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) Fellowship Award.
On this World Digital Preservation Day, we reflect on the significance of African digital content and Indigenous knowledge systems. In Africa, an elder is the entire library and knowledge repository of wisdom, information, knowledge, cultural practices, and stories. What happens when this human knowledge walks away? This highlights the significance of digital preservation efforts in documenting and preserving this valuable knowledge. DPC recently honored Gladys Kemboi with the 2024 DPC Fellowship Award, for her impact in digital legacy and preservation of local and Indigenous knowledge in Kenya and across Africa. As we reflect on this World Digital Preservation Day, the work of individuals like Kemboi and global partners serves as a powerful reminder and highlights a growing movement to support Indigenous communities in digitizing their knowledge and creating a digital legacy that will inform and enrich future generations.
Preserving Keiyo Indigenous Knowledge
Kemboi’s dedication to preserving Indigenous knowledge is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Raised in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, she learned traditional food preservation, herbal medicine, and even weather prediction techniques during different seasons from her grandmothers. "This early connection with Indigenous knowledge instilled in me a deep connection for my community research on Indigenous knowledge systems to create community-driven solutions," said Kemboi. This year, we are excited to celebrate Africa Indigenous knowledge systems, bringing global awareness to Indigenous preservation, the rich cultural heritage and digital contents such as the Keiyo song-Rengeiywo (YouTube link) by Anin Cultural Dancers, which honors grandmothers for their role in passing on essential traditional knowledge about agricultural practices, livestock, medicine, and environmental conservation practices.
Community-Driven Digital Preservation: The Kip-Agenge Initiative
Among the Kemboi’s pioneering efforts is the Kip-Agenge project, an initiative dedicated to the digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge. This project brings together community members, researchers, and international organizations to preserve knowledge specific to the Keiyo community. Recently recognized as a finalist for the ICA/Digital Preservation Coalition Award for Collaboration and Cooperation, Kip-Agenge exemplifies how community-led initiatives can have global impact. Through knowledge partnerships, the project has gained international recognition for its commitment to tackling climate change crisis, bridging cultural divides, and addressing issues of cultural preservation. With the power of digital preservation, Kip-Agenge not only safeguards cultural heritage but also provides critical insights that are increasingly relevant to global challenges such as climate change shocks and biodiversity conservation.
The Digital Preservation Community’s Support
Digital preservation is not an individual effort. Kemboi shared that her journey was enhanced by the support from the Digital Preservation Coalition's Career Development Fund, enabling her to attend the iPRES 2023 conference at the University of Illinois. There, she presented her work on "Empowering Rural Communities to Address Climate Change and Epistemic Injustices through Digital Archives.” During the conference, she connected with mentors including Assistant Professor Karen Wickett and Chris Prom, the associate dean for digital strategies at the University Library. These exchanges have not only enriched her understanding but also advanced her digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge systems and her advocacy for the decolonization of knowledge in international development, working with the Knowledge Management for Development (KM4Dev) community. Kemboi is currently pursuing her doctoral studies at the School of Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, focusing oon decolonization of knowledge, epistemic justice, building Communities of Practice and digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge in addressing climate change shocks, and contributing to the work done by her community scholars such as Dr. Isaac Tarus about the Keiyo [ethnic group in Kenya] during the early colonial period.
The DPC Model and Its Role in Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Kemboi’s work leverages the Digital Preservation Coalition's Rapid Assessment Model (DPC RAM) to benchmarks and understand the digital preservation needs of Indigenous communities. The model provides an adaptable framework, supporting the sustainability of knowledge systems within culturally specific contexts while adhering to international and community preservation standards. Kemboi said, “The DPC Model serves as a blueprint for digitizing Indigenous knowledge practices in Africa and beyond. With such models, communities gain access to tools that empower them to participate in and take ownership of the digital preservation efforts, it enriches our shared human history, providing access to a digital legacy that is promising to the future generations.”