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

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

Johannes Sibeko , Andiswa Mvanyashe & Vuyelwa Jacobs

Issue: Vol. 7 No.7 2026 Article 8 pp. 1849 – 1861
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026778 Published online 10th August 2026

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ABSTRACT

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.

Keywords: Oral traditions, African Digital Humanities, Cultural heritage, African knowledge, Histories.

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Johannes Sibeko is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Humanities at Nelson Mandela University. He is the Coordinator of the university’s Digital Humanities Hub. He is Editor of the Journal of the Digital Humanities Association of Southern Africa and Associate Editor of Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies. His work sits at the intersection of language, digital technologies, and African scholarship, with a strong focus on African Digital Humanities, linguistic complexity, corpus-based research, and multilingualism. He is also a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Language Committee under the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), where he contributes to policy and advocacy work for language development in the region.

Dr. Andiswa Mvanyashe is a Senior Lecturer and former Head of the Department of Languages and Literatures at Nelson Mandela University. A passionate academic and language enthusiast, she is dedicated to the preservation, development, and growth of isiXhosa language and culture. She holds a doctorate in isiXhosa. Her teaching and research span sociolinguistics, creative writing, language change, and isiXhosa literature. Beyond academia, she has worked as an isiXhosa language practitioner and translator with organisations like Translate.org.za and Gnome, and she formerly served on the board of the non-profit Unako, supporting educational development in underserved communities.

Dr. Vuyelwa Jacobs is a Lecturer and Programme Coordinator for the Diploma in Public Relations in the Department of Media and Communication at Nelson Mandela University. Based at the South Campus, she brings a multidisciplinary background to her teaching and academic leadership, drawing from her extensive qualifications in communication, media studies, psychology, and education. She holds a PhD in Communication Science from the University of South Africa, and a Master’s in Media Studies from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. With a passion for education, communication, and student development, Vuyelwa Jacobs plays a central role in shaping public relations education at the university while contributing to broader discussions on media, society, and pedagogy.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Sibeko, Johannes; Andiswa Mvanyashe & Vuyelwa Jacobs. “Challenges in documenting South Africa’s oral traditions and indigenous languages.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.7 (2026): 1849 – 1861.https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026778