Centuries-Long African Oral Traditions and History: Revisiting the Debate.

The article focuses on the complex relationship between centuries-long African oral traditions and academic history and archaeology in southern Africa. It argues that indigenous oral narratives, often marginalized in contemporary historiography, constitute vital epistemic sources that coexist with written histories without losing their distinctiveness. Employing an Afrocentric methodology, the study highlights how oral traditions, cultural practices, and environmental knowledge collectively inform southern Africa’s deep historical consciousness and challenge colonial and Eurocentric historiographical biases. The article further explores the dynamic interplay between culture, landscape, and memory, emphasizing oral history’s role in preserving indigenous identities and subverting colonial narratives. Ultimately, it advocates for an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to African history that recognizes oral traditions as legitimate and essential components of the continent’s past.