Digitization and Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Methodological Framework for Music and the Humanities

The preservation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has become a crucial global concern in the twenty-first century, particularly within disciplines in the arts and humanities. This chapter explores the methodological foundations for digitizing and preserving intangible cultural heritage with a focus on music, which represents one of the most vital and endangered aspects of human creativity. It examines how traditional knowledge systems, oral transmission, and performance practices can be integrated with modern digital technologies to enhance sustainability and accessibility. The study engages the intersection between ethnographic documentation, digital archiving, and computational analysis, proposing a framework that aligns indigenous epistemologies with contemporary digital tools. Drawing examples from African musical traditions, especially from the Ogu-Badagry community in Nigeria, the chapter demonstrates that digitization is not merely an act of storage but a transformative process of cultural revalidation, knowledge democratization, and interdisciplinary engagement in the humanities. The chapter concludes with practical recommendations for researchers, archivists, and cultural institutions seeking to preserve, interpret, and disseminate the living heritage of music through digital means.