Nouvelles technologies et cinéma au service de la mise en valeur du patrimoine culturel immatériel au Musée d’Histoire de Ouidah

Located in the former Portuguese fort of Ouidah, the Ouidah History Museum serves a dual purpose: as a site of remembrance for the transatlantic slave trade and as a space for promoting local cultural expressions. Despite the richness of the region’s intangible heritage—particularly vodoun rituals, songs, dances, and artisanal knowledge—traditional museographic methods struggle to make this heritage accessible. This article explores the potential of new technologies and cinema as innovative tools for cultural mediation and the safeguarding of living heritage. It begins with an analysis of digital technologies applied to museums in Africa and worldwide, highlighting immersive tools such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive installations, which can transform museum visits into sensory and participatory experiences. Although technical and financial constraints can hinder their implementation in African contexts, pioneering initiatives such as the Zinsou Foundation in Benin show promising developments. The case study “Vodoun, Voices and Visions of a Living Heritage” proposes a hybrid museum project combining documentary film, immersive recordings, digital animations, and community participation. The article advocates for the creation of an audiovisual production center, the training of young filmmakers, the development of regional networks of connected museums, and the design of a national digital museology strategy.