Increasingly, there is a concern that Caribbean countries and their citizens are losing their grip on their cultural identity thanks to the overwhelming influx of digital media and content which we are now accessing from as early as toddler age. Multi-hyphenate global thought leader, Dr Kris Rampersad, discusses digital deletion and what Caribbean countries need to do for their cultural survival and ultimately, preserve their own unique identities.

 

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The impact of technology on culture is a subject that often, does not get much attention. Nevertheless, it could be argued that the internet and the technological advancements that have occurred in recent years have been causing us to loosen our grip on cultural traditions and heritage, though they are critical to our national and cultural identities.

For those of us born before 2000, when the internet was less ubiquitous than it now, we may have a greater appreciation of our culture and heritage as it may have occupied a larger space of the societal consciousness – thanks to the stories we were told, the efforts that were being made to actively promote and preserve some of heritage, and the practices of the elders in our families and communities. These days, as older generations move on, and we live in a world of hyper-speed, efficiency, productivity and effectiveness, matters related to our history, cultural heritage and practices are no longer as prevalent as they had been. However, to a considerable degree, these attributes help us identify ourselves as being from X or Y country, which in turn strengthens our sense of belonging.

Having said this, concerns about the loss of our cultural identity in the Caribbean region are not new. In the 1990s and early 2000s, there was the cry that the influx of ‘American television”’ was causing us to know more about American culture than our own. However, the internet, and the 24/7 access to content it facilitates, is arguably, exacerbating the situation and could result in irrevocable loss of the region’s history and cultural heritage.

 

Introducing our guest

Dr Kris Rampersad

Dr Kris Rampersad is an independent scholar, award-winning journalist, author, international development consultant, thought leader, educator, researcher and content creator devising innovative user-responsive mechanisms for communicating culture- and gender-sensitive development for Latin America and the Caribbean, Small Islands, the Global South and the Developing World. She is a certified UNESCO Heritage and National Geographic Educator, Global Woman Tech Makers’ Ambassador, Google and Worldpulse Digital Skills Ambassador, and Island Innovators’ Ambassador.

She developed the newest creative genre, the MultiMedia MicroEpic during the Pandemic lockdown as an innovation of the conventional long-form epic for short-form new media and is developing innovative models, modules and materials for education along with other pioneering work in advancing blogging, writing, digital publishing and productions.

She was awarded the Trinidad and Tobago National Medal Gold for contributions to the development of women and journalism and is recognised as a pioneer in development policy blogging for new media by the UNESCO/BBC & Partners’ Communication’s Initiative, among other accolades. She is the author of the highly acclaimed LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction, a springboard for engaging all ages – she says from ages 3 to 103 – in literature and cultural appreciation beyond the textbooks through live events and tours aimed at cultivating heritage appreciation and to develop Caribbean Literary & Heritage Tourism.

She also authored Through the Political Glass Ceiling that captures the ascension to office of the First Woman Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and I the Sky & Me the Sea – The Adventures of Munnie Butterfly and Danny Dragonfly, the first of a Caribbean EcoCultural Adventure Fable Series.

 

Insights into our conversation

Kris is passionate about several topics, especially the intersection of Caribbean culture with technology. A point that she emphasised during our conversation is the fact that there is nowhere on Earth like the Caribbean region: where we have a little bit of everywhere else plus our unique identity that has emerged. However, much of that is being lost, as we have not actively sought to preserve, celebrate or even harness it going forward.

Also, to be clear: culture is not just our music, dance, art, etc. They are just part of it. We must not forget our beliefs, traditions and practices, which are also part of how we lived and the fabric of our societies. Kris thus reminds us of the communal savings system that has existed among Caribbean women for generations. Going by the name ‘partner’, ‘sou’, ‘sou-sou’ among others, this system has helped women save money, especially in times when they were not allowed to own property or even open a bank account. And although times have changed, we may not fully appreciate the potential of such models, which are informing some of our emerging technologies for which community and consensus building are critical.

 

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Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  K Rampersad;  Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia Commons; Wikimedia Commons; Wikipedia

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez