Digital Preservation and the New Orality: Using ICT to Teach Indigenous Drama and Poetry

This research investigates the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the preservation and pedagogical transmission of Zezuru drama and poetry in Zimbabwe. Historically, indigenous oral arts termed "orality" have relied on face-to-face communal performance, a method increasingly threatened by urbanization and the digital divide. This study examines the concept of the "New Orality," wherein digital platforms such as social media, podcasts, and mobile applications serve as modern "performance firesides" for the Zezuru culture. Focusing on the Zezuru communities in the Marondera District, the research explores how ICT can bridge the gap between traditional heritage and the contemporary classroom. By digitizing performances of nduri (poetry) and mutambo (drama), the study argues that educators can create a "living digital archive" that preserves the linguistic nuances and paralinguistic features such as tone, rhythm, and gesture that are often lost in written transcriptions. The methodology utilizes a qualitative, action-research approach, observing the integration of digital indigenous content within Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) frameworks over one academic term. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers and cultural practitioners, focus group discussions with students, and analysis of digitized performances. The research posits that ICT does not replace tradition but rather provides a decolonial tool to resist the hegemony of Western digital content. Findings indicate that students exhibited higher levels of engagement and expressed increased cultural pride when indigenous drama was presented through interactive digital media. Furthermore, the study identifies that digital preservation allows for a "transnational orality," connecting Zezuru diaspora youth with their linguistic roots. However, sustainability is constrained by infrastructure gaps, limited teacher training, and digital access disparities. The research concludes that for Zezuru literature to remain vibrant, pedagogical practices must evolve to embrace ICT, ensuring that the "New Orality" continues to function as a site for identity formation in a globalized world.

Digital Preservation, New Orality, Zezuru Drama and Poetry, ICT in Education, ODeL

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