About Our Work in Tales Of Africa

Tales of Africa is the careful recording, preservation, and sharing of lived experiences passed through memory, voice, and story. We exist to document those voices ethically, preserve them responsibly, and make them accessible in ways that respect narrators and communities.

Across the continent and throughout the diaspora, history has long been carried through speech, song, proverb, testimony, and memory. Much of it was never written down. That does not make it less rigorous or less real. It makes it urgent to preserve.

This page explains who we are, how we work, and what you can expect when you explore or contribute to our archive.

• We preserve and steward African oral history as living memory.

• We follow recognized oral history ethics and best practices, including informed consent and clear access rights.

• We document interviews with contextual metadata so they remain usable for research, education, and community heritage.

You can explore stories, contribute interviews, request access, or partner with us.

What We Mean by African Oral History

African oral history refers to recorded interviews and testimonies that document lived experience as primary historical evidence. It is distinct from folklore or myth. It involves structured interviewing, consent, documentation, and preservation.

When we use the term African oral history, we mean intentional interviews that capture memory, perspective, and interpretation. These recordings become primary sources. They document how people experienced events, not just how institutions recorded them.

This differs from oral tradition, which includes proverbs, praise poetry, epics, myths, and songs passed down through generations. Oral tradition carries collective memory across time. Oral history captures lived memory within a specific moment and context.

Both matter. We work at the intersection of the two, with clear distinctions in documentation and method.

Our Mission

We preserve living memory with integrity, accuracy, and community respect. Our goal is to ensure that voices are not lost and that they remain accessible in ways that are ethical and sustainable.

History is often shaped by what survives in writing. Across Africa and its diaspora, many experiences were never documented in official records. Oral history helps address that imbalance.

Our mission rests on three pillars:

1. Ethical documentation

2. Responsible preservation

3. Community-informed access

We are not simply building a digital collection. We are building a record of lived experience that can be studied, cited, and trusted.

How We Work

We follow established oral history best practices recognized by professional bodies such as the Oral History Association and the International Oral History Association. Our process is transparent and structured.

Preparation

Before recording, we clarify purpose, scope, and consent. We explain how recordings may be used, stored, and accessed. Narrators have the opportunity to ask questions and set boundaries.

Informed consent is not a formality. It is a conversation.

Recording

We conduct interviews using high-quality audio equipment and structured questioning techniques. We document:

• Narrator name and role

• Interviewer name

• Date and location

• Language used

• Topics covered

Context matters. Without it, memory becomes detached from meaning.

Documentation and Metadata

Every interview is accompanied by contextual metadata, which is structured descriptive information that makes recordings searchable and citable.

We may include:

• Interview summaries

• Keywords and themes

• Time-coded indexes

• Transcripts when available

• Language notes

Where appropriate, we use systems inspired by tools such as OHMS, the Oral History Metadata Synchronizer, which allows audio to be linked to searchable text segments.

Preservation

We store preservation masters separately from public access copies. Digital preservation includes secure storage, redundant backups, and format monitoring to reduce long-term loss risk.

Preservation is not uploading a file. It is an ongoing responsibility.

Access and Rights

Access is governed by consent agreements and cultural sensitivity considerations. We may use tiered access models:

• Open access

• Registered access

• Restricted community access

• Embargoed materials

Narrator rights and community protocols are respected at every stage.

Our Ethical Framework

Ethics are central to our work. Without them, oral history becomes extraction rather than stewardship.

We align with widely recognized oral history ethics principles, including:

• Informed consent

• Transparency of purpose

• Respect for narrator autonomy

• Clear documentation of rights

• Responsible handling of sensitive material

We provide mechanisms for restriction or takedown when justified by privacy, safety, or cultural considerations.

Memory can be powerful and vulnerable at the same time. Ethical stewardship protects both.

What Makes Our Archive Reliable

Oral history is sometimes questioned because memory can be subjective. Subjectivity does not make it unreliable. It makes it human.

Reliability in oral history comes from:

• Clear documentation of who is speaking

• Transparent context

• Accurate recording

• Careful metadata

• Responsible citation guidance

We do not claim oral history replaces written records. It complements them. Used properly, it provides insight into lived experience, interpretation, and meaning that official documents often omit.

Living Memory and Shared Stewardship

We view memory as living. It evolves as people reflect, reinterpret, and revisit the past.

Living memory acknowledges:

• Personal interpretation

• Community identity

• Emotional context

• Generational transmission

Shared stewardship means communities are not passive subjects. They are collaborators. When appropriate, they help shape access rules, contextual framing, and language decisions.

This approach strengthens trust and long-term sustainability.

Who This Is For

• If you are a learner, you can explore interviews to understand history through lived experience.

• If you are a researcher, you can consult primary sources with documented provenance and citation guidance.

• If you are a community member, you can contribute stories and help preserve local memory.

• If you represent an institution, you can partner with us on documentation, training, or archival collaboration.

We design our work so each group can engage responsibly.

How to Use and Cite Our Materials

We provide citation guidance for interviews to ensure clarity and academic integrity.

A complete citation typically includes:

• Narrator

• Interviewer

• Interview date

• Collection name

• Repository

• Stable URL or identifier

• Time reference when relevant

Clear citation supports scholarship and prevents misrepresentation.

Our Commitment to Transparency

We publish:

• Methodology summaries

• Ethics statements

• Access policies

• Update logs

We disclose funding sources where applicable. We describe limitations when they exist. If something cannot be verified, we say so.

Trust grows when institutions are honest about uncertainty.

Our Broader Educational Mission

African oral history strengthens education, identity, and intergenerational understanding. UNESCO recognizes oral traditions as a form of intangible cultural heritage that carries collective knowledge across time.

By documenting interviews with care, we help ensure that memory remains accessible for future generations.

We encourage educators to explore our materials alongside written sources to build a fuller historical picture.

Checklist for Responsible Oral History Engagement

If you are considering recording or contributing an interview, ask:

• Is consent fully informed and documented?

• Are access rights clearly defined?

• Is context recorded with accuracy?

• Are sensitive topics handled respectfully?

• Is there a preservation plan?

Responsible practice protects narrators and strengthens historical integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is African oral history

African oral history is the structured recording of lived experience through interviews that become primary historical sources. It includes documentation, consent, and preservation practices.

How is oral history different from oral tradition

Oral tradition refers to stories, proverbs, epics, and cultural expressions passed through generations. Oral history refers to recorded interviews about personal or community experiences.

Is oral history reliable

Yes, when properly documented and contextualized. Reliability depends on transparency, metadata, and responsible interpretation rather than claims of absolute objectivity.

Who owns an oral history recording

Ownership and usage rights depend on consent agreements. Ethical practice requires honoring narrator rights and clearly defining access conditions.

Can someone restrict or remove their interview

Yes, under certain circumstances such as privacy or safety concerns. We maintain a review process for restriction requests consistent with our ethical commitments.

Do you provide transcripts

Where resources permit, we provide transcripts or indexed summaries to improve accessibility and searchability.

How do you handle sensitive cultural knowledge

Sensitive knowledge may be restricted or subject to community-defined access conditions. We prioritize cultural respect over unrestricted publication.

Explore Further

To understand the broader context of this field, explore our parent guide on African oral history and living memory. You may also want to read:

• Oral history ethics and informed consent

• How to conduct and document an oral history interview

• Oral history metadata and digital preservation

• How to cite oral history interviews correctly

Each resource expands on the standards and principles summarized here.

Closing

African oral history preserves more than events. It preserves perspective, voice, and meaning.

When memory is recorded responsibly, it becomes a bridge between generations. Our work is to ensure that bridge is strong, ethical, and accessible.

If you are here to learn, contribute, research, or collaborate, you are part of that effort.