'Telling Stories in Whose Interest?' Using "Sango" and "Shaka: iLembe" to Highlight the Significance of Language Use in the Colonial and Decolonial Value of African Cinema.

This article examines the significance of language choice in African historical films, focusing on the colonial dominance of English versus the use of indigenous languages as a form of cultural preservation and decolonial storytelling. Through qualitative textual analysis of Nigeria's *Sango* (1997), primarily in English with limited Yoruba, and South Africa's *Shaka iLembe* (2023), told entirely in isiZulu with English subtitles, the study highlights how indigenous language use strengthens cultural authenticity and resists colonial legacies. The findings reveal that *Shaka iLembe*'s use of isiZulu fosters deeper engagement with African traditions and identity, while *Sango*'s reliance on English reflects tensions between global market accessibility and cultural fidelity. The authors recommend that African film industries and policymakers support indigenous language scripts to promote linguistic and cultural heritage in historical cinema.