Today, 27 October, is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, a day to highlight the importance of preserving sounds and images that hold the stories of human lives, the cultures of nations and the memories of past generations.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed this observance in 2005 to raise public awareness of the importance of safeguarding audiovisual heritage. This year’s theme is “A Window to the World,” highlighting the role of this heritage in understanding diverse cultures and fostering connections between communities.

Films, historical photographs, audio and video recordings, and radio and television programmes are more than just recorded documents. They preserve the voices of people who may no longer be among us, images of events that shaped history, and accounts of languages, music, traditions and moments that form part of communities’ identities.

Sometimes, a recorded voice brings the memory of a historic day back to life, while an old image connects us with generations who lived before us. If these materials disappear, part of humanity’s shared memory will also be lost forever.

However, the passage of time, the deterioration of tapes and films, inadequate storage conditions and the obsolescence of older technologies place this valuable heritage at risk of destruction. Preserving, restoring and digitizing archives can help ensure these materials survive and remain accessible to future generations.

In 2026, UNESCO has highlighted efforts to safeguard and digitize endangered documentary heritage, including around 45,000 audio tapes from the Mogadishu Radio archive in Somalia. The collection contains recordings of everyday life, news, speeches, entertainment programmes and music, reflecting part of the country’s history and identity.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is a reminder of our shared responsibility: to ensure that the voices of the past do not fall silent and that images of history do not disappear into the dust of time. Preserving this heritage means safeguarding memories, cultural identity and the stories of people who have each helped shape world history.

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