Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi Officiates Renaming of Nfvsa Buildings to Ken Gampu and Dolly Rathebe

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi officiates renaming of the National Films, Video and Sound Archives buildings to Ken Gampu and Dolly Rathebe in Pretoria

Today, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP, officiated the renaming of the National Films, Video and Sound Archives (NFVSA) buildings to Ken Gampu and Dolly Rathebe as part of the World Audio Visual Heritage Day and the 50th anniversary of the National Films, Video and Sound Archives in Pretoria.

The World Audio Visual Heritage Day is celebrated annually on 27 October as declared by UNESCO. It provides an occasion to raise general awareness of the need to take urgent measures and to acknowledge the importance of audio visual records. This year’s theme is “Archives at risk”. Audio visual records created a century or more ago, using now-obsolete technologies, are in particular danger of loss or decay.

“The world’s entire audio visual heritage of the last century is endangered and most of it is considered lost. Not even in those countries where funds are more easily available can it be assumed that this heritage is protected. Floods, fires, storms and earthquakes can destroy our heritage overnight. Humidity, heat, dust and salt-laden atmospheres also play their part, and losses can arise from technical obsolescence as well as physical decay affecting not only traditional carriers but also the 'new' digital media. Theft and vandalism, the ravages of war, deliberate erasing and reusing of...