Preserving Oral Tradition through Digital Community of Practice: The Case of Igala Proverbs Competition on Facebook

The Igala Proverbs competition on Facebook represents a dynamic effort to preserve and promote Igala oral tradition within the digital landscape. This study explores how a virtual community of practice has emerged around the Facebook-based initiative, effectively transforming the ephemeral nature of oral heritage into an accessible and enduring digital archive. Through daily postings, user interactions, and interpretive commentaries, community members contribute to the documentation, interpretation, and transmission of Igala proverbs as an essential component of cultural identity and indigenous knowledge system. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Communities of Practice (CoP), the paper analyzes user-generated content and engagement patterns within the group to reveal how digital platforms can foster collective memory, intergenerational dialogue, and cultural continuity. The study finds that the competition not only revives interest in Igala proverbs among younger demographics but also reinforces linguistic competence and cultural values in a participatory and educative manner. Moreover, the digital format offers new possibilities for archiving, categorizing, and referencing oral expressions previously restricted to face-to-face contexts. This paper positions the Igala proverb competition on Facebook as a model for community-driven digital archiving initiatives, highlighting the role of social media in indigenous language preservation and cultural revitalization. It underscores the transformative power of digital communities in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the 21st century.