Integrating Digital Technologies for the Promotion and Preservation of Oral Literature: Exploring Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6697/20503

Keywords:

oral literature, digitalisation, preservation, Indigenous languages, innovation, learning strategies

Abstract

Integrating digital technologies to promote and preserve oral literature represents a transformative approach to safeguarding Indigenous languages, oral literature, and cultural heritage. African society is anchored in oral literature, which preserves the people’s traditions, culture, and spirituality and is essential to their education about the ancient times before the arrival of European settlers in Africa. Preserving oral tradition is achieved by engaging oral literature with digital technologies and promoting Indigenous languages in digital spaces. Teaching and learning of oral literature can then be digitised to preserve and promote it for generations. This is a literature study that explores the application of digital modalities for podcast, vodcast, dubbing, subtitling, digital storytelling, and translation memory using African Language Technology (ALT) theory in digitising and disseminating oral traditions. The qualitative study uses prescribed key approaches such as utilising natural language processing (NLP) and Creative Large Datasets (CLD). The study highlights the potential of ALT to bridge the gap between traditional oral literature and modern digital media, ensuring the continuity and revitalisation of Indigenous languages and stories. The research demonstrates that digital technologies enhance the visibility of oral literature.

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Published

2026-05-04

How to Cite

wayise, Siphenkosi, and Sinoyolo Nokutywa. 2026. “Integrating Digital Technologies for the Promotion and Preservation of Oral Literature: Exploring Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategies”. Southern African Journal for Folklore Studies 35 (1):14 pages . https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6697/20503.

Issue

Section

Articles
Received 2025-09-18
Accepted 2026-03-31
Published 2026-05-04