Challenges in documenting South Africa’s oral traditions and indigenous languages

Résumé

South Africa’s cultural landscape is deeply intertwined with oral traditions that have long served as vital vehicles for the transmission of history, ethics, and societal values. However, the lack of written records creates significant challenges to preserving these traditions. This article examines secrecy as a form of gatekeeping in the preservation of South African oral knowledge and considers how Digital Humanities (DH) initiatives can navigate these dynamics. Using a conceptual, literature-based approach, this article reviewed scholarship on oral transmission, DH practices for intangible heritage preservation, and community-based participatory research, focusing on collaboration with knowledge holders. The discussion highlights key challenges, including the digital divide, language barriers, dialectical variations, and the absence of standardised orthographies, all of which complicate documentation and access. In response, the article advocates for African-led, community-driven digitisation strategies that prioritise inclusivity, transparency, and active participation of knowledge holders. This article provides a conceptual framework for the preservation of culturally sensitive DHs, offering guidance for future scholarship and policy aimed at safeguarding South Africa’s oral heritage.

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