Reinterpreting African oral traditions: Insights from the digital storytelling in Tinga Tinga Tales

Lencer Achieng Ndede

doi:10.51867/scimundi.6.1.1

Authors

Lencer Achieng Ndede

Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7032-0160

Keywords:

Digital Storytelling, African Oral Literature, Tinga Tinga Tales, Visual Communication, Child-Centered Narratives

Abstract

The article explores the transformation of African oral storytelling through digital media, with a focus on ‘Tinga Tinga’ Tales. The purpose is to highlight how digital platforms enhance narrative delivery by integrating visual, auditory, and performative elements that surpass the limitations of written texts. Using the principles of multimodal theory, the study critically analyses the effectiveness of visual storytelling in engaging children, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding audience reach across linguistic and geographic boundaries. Through an in-depth textual analysis, the findings reveal and emphasize the role of animation, dialogue, music, and character voice in creating immersive, multi-voiced narratives that foster imagination and emotional connection. Significantly, the article addresses how digital media democratizes access to African folktales, making them accessible to non-literate audiences and global viewers, thereby diversifying and revitalizing Africa’s rich oral traditions in the digital age.

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