TRINITARIAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

History derived from oral accounts remains largely absent within the framework of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI excels in providing information that has been recorded and digitized, it is limited in accessing historical narratives transmitted through oral tradition, particularly in many West African societies. Numerous West African histories predate modern technologies and, therefore, remain undocumented and inaccessible within global digital spaces. This study, titled “History/Oral Accounts in the Era of Globalization and Artificial Intelligence in the West African Context,” examines the implications of this absence for historical preservation and global knowledge production. The paper identifies key challenges, including the loss of historical data due to inadequate research resources, limited access to digital technologies, poverty, low digital literacy, and the isolation of certain communities. These factors contribute to the localization of historical knowledge and restrict its global visibility. The study argues that in an era where information not available in cyberspace is often considered nonexistent, the marginalization of oral history poses a significant threat to West African heritage. It therefore calls on historians to prioritize oral tradition as a legitimate and necessary historical source and to digitize oral narratives. The paper concludes by recommending increased research funding to support oral history projects and ensure their integration into global knowledge systems.

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