From Oral Tradition to Algorithmic Narratives:Acceptance and Resistance of AI in TransformingAfrican Storytelling among Igbos of Nigeria.
Ifeyinwa Nsude
The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital media technologies is redefining how cultural narratives are produced, preserved, and consumed across Africa. For the Igbo people of Nigeria, whose oral storytelling traditions embody communal memory, moral education, and linguistic identity, the rise of algorithmic storytelling presents both transformative opportunities and significant cultural tensions. This paper will examine the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and indigenous oral traditions, focusing on the Igbo storytelling culture of Nigeria and the acceptance and resistance of AI-driven storytelling among Igbo storytellers, cultural custodians, and audiences. The study will be anchored on the Cultural Continuity Theory and Technological Determinism Theory. The study will involve a systematic literature review guided by PRISMA methodology and will synthesize empirical and conceptual studies published between 2015 and 2025. The findings will offer critical insights into how algorithmic narratives reshape African cultural expression and provide recommendations for culturally sensitive AI design that supports, rather than displaces, indigenous knowledge systems.