It’s the best kind of museum. The kind you can visit from anywhere in the world from the comfort of your home. Google’s Cultural Institute, a project established in 2010 with a mission of ‘helping to preserve and promote culture online’, recently launched a digital document of Lagos’ history. In partnership with Nigeria’s Pan-Atlantic University, on digital display is a collection of rare photo’s and documents covering the last 100 years of Lagos, an archive that documents the growth of Lagos into Africa’s biggest metropolis. Many additional online records are in progress or planned by Google’s Cultural Institute including a full digitization of Nelson Mandela’s records and this document of the struggle for freedom in Mozambique. In a 2011 blog post, the Google approach to historical documentation was explained in the following way:
[blockquote source=”Google Cultural Institute”]Google’s mission has always been about democratizing access to information, and Africa is no exception. The Internet is growing fast, and presents new ways to preserve and share information online. We believe that huge benefits can be derived by bringing Africa’s rich historical and cultural heritage online, and making it more accessible and useful.[/blockquote]
Search the expansive Google archives here and let us know if you find a gem.
Africa Redux Founder Chi Kaitano.
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