AFROFUTURISM, AI VIDEO, AND IGBO FOLKLORE PRESERVATION: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Abstract

The Igbo language and its oral traditions, including folktales, poetry, and proverbs, face the risk of decline as younger generations become more detached from traditional forms of cultural transmission. This paper examines how AI-generated video can serve as a tool for preserving and promoting Igbo folklore through an Afrofuturist lens. The study argues that when Igbo oral literature is translated into visual narratives using generative video tools, the process can facilitate creative reimagining while also creating risks of cultural distortion that keeps cultural knowledge alive for contemporary audiences. The research objectives are threefold: to identify the key literary elements of Igbo folklore that can be adapted into visual form, to develop a practical framework for generating culturally authentic AI videos, and to assess the potential and limitations of this approach for cultural preservation. The study adopts a qualitative methodology that combines literary analysis of Igbo folktales and poetry with practice-based research in AI video generation. Afrofuturism serves as the theoretical framework, providing a lens through which the blending of tradition and futuristic aesthetics can be understood as a form of speculative preservation. The findings suggest that AI-generated video has potential as a complementary medium for visualizing Igbo oral narratives, particularly when literary scholars guide the prompt engineering process to ensure cultural accuracy. However, the study also identifies challenges, including the need for larger Igbo language datasets, the risk of homogenizing diverse dialects, and the ethical considerations of using AI to represent sacred cultural elements. The paper recommends the development of collaborative frameworks that bring together literary scholars, cultural practitioners, and technologists to create a sustainable model for AI-assisted folklore preservation. It also calls for the creation of open-access Igbo literary datasets to support future research and practice in this emerging field.