Preserving Intellectual Heritage: The Role of Libraries and Archives in Madagascar's African Context

Madagascar's cultural heritage includes a rich array of African intellectual traditions, which are often preserved through libraries and archives. The country’s diverse landscapes and complex socio-political history have resulted in unique local knowledge systems. The research employs a qualitative methodology involving interviews with librarians and archivists, as well as focus group discussions with local communities. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires and ethnographic observations in key institutions across Madagascar. A significant finding is the critical role played by traditional Malagasy language texts within these archives, constituting about 40% of all preserved intellectual materials. This highlights their importance as a medium for preserving local knowledge systems. Libraries and archives in Madagascar are pivotal in safeguarding African intellectual heritage, particularly through their preservation efforts of traditional texts written in Malagasy language. Policy recommendations include increased funding for digitization projects to ensure digital preservation of these materials, alongside initiatives aimed at promoting local languages within educational curricula.