With the launch of the Malawi Folktales and Folksongs Database, Malawi has emerged as a trailblazer in leveraging digital technology to preserve its intangible cultural heritage and sharing this rich legacy with the world.
The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) was one of the first national radio stations in Africa to digitise its deteriorating reel-to-reel tapes. This initiative safeguarded an invaluable archive that was on the brink of being lost and has been followed by similar digitisation projects across the continent, including in Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Continuing this tradition of innovation, Malawi broke new ground in October 2024 with the launch of the Malawi Folktales and Folksongs Database. This remarkable digital repository features video recordings of 257 folktales and 217 folksongs, collected over 12 years from 14 districts across the country. The project represents a collaborative effort by several organisations, including the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO, the Malawi National Library Service, Music Crossroads Malawi, the Department of Museums and Monuments, Tumaini Letu, and the Rei Foundation.
The primary motivation behind this initiative is to safeguard Malawi’s folktales and folksongs while enriching musical education and creative practices within the country. However, the database also addresses deeper concerns, such as the historical tendency of foreign ethnomusicologists to decontextualize recordings of folksongs.
During fieldwork in the northern region, the team benefited from the expertise of an anthropologist from Karonga Museum, who facilitated connections with local chiefs and provided insight into the distinct cultures and languages of the Chitipa and Karonga districts. This enabled the team to identify the storytellers, traditional dancers, and masters of indigenous musical instruments to be recorded. By collaborating with traditional authorities and village leaders, the team ensured that each story and song was documented in its authentic cultural setting.
Each song in the database is catalogued according to its origin, subject matter, and performance occasion, offering users an enriched understanding of its significance. English subtitles accompany the folktales, while English translations of the folksong lyrics are accessible via an “Info” link beneath each video—though this feature might not be immediately apparent to all users. The inclusion of subtitles and translations enhances accessibility, making the database a valuable resource for both local and international audiences.
I find the project’s use of video recordings particularly interesting. Here at AfricanPoems we, wherever possible, combine audio recordings with transcriptions and translations of the lyrics. There is something to be said for the way that an audio recording can focus attention on the lyrical content of folksongs and oral poetry, but of course the downside is that a lot of the performance, including gestures, audience interactions and dramatic movements, is lost. Video captures more of the multi-sensory richness of oral traditions, the visual and performative context that gives these traditions their depth and vitality. This ensures the database is not merely a repository but a vibrant reflection of Malawi’s cultural heritage.
We commend this project for its commitment to making these recordings freely accessible to the world. The Malawi Folktales and Folksongs Database stands as a model for other countries seeking to preserve and share their cultural treasures. Just as the MBC’s groundbreaking digitisation efforts spurred similar initiatives across the continent, this database has the potential to inspire new approaches to the dissemination of cultural archives, both within Africa and internationally.
By combining archival preservation with global accessibility, Malawi continues to lead the way in celebrating and safeguarding its cultural heritage for future generations.
