The Authenticity of Archives in the Digital Age: Challenges, Perspectives, and African Contexts: Technology in the Service of Preserving Authenticity: Projects and Practical Case Studies

In the age of digitization and artificial intelligence, the authenticity of archives can no longer be regarded as an intrinsic property of the document. It becomes a dynamic process, grounded in traceability, transparency of processing, and the contextualization of data.This paper offers a critical re-examination of classical models of archival authenticity in light of digital transformations. Drawing on examples from scientific projects conducted at CEDEJ (statistical, cartographic, environmental, and press archives), it demonstrates how methodological documentation, digital mediation, and data sovereignty contribute to building trust.Grounded in African contexts, the presentation argues that authenticity is a relational and situated construction, and that African experiences actively contribute to renewing global reflection on archives in the digital age.