Date

8-20-2026

Department

School of Communication and the Arts

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)

Chair

Sandra J. Romo

Keywords

oral tradition, cultural identity, Nigerian diaspora, cultural preservation, narrative paradigm, diasporic storytelling

Disciplines

Communication

Abstract

Oral tradition is a dynamic communicative practice through which diasporic individuals construct meaning, transmit memory, and sustain intergenerational belonging. Against the backdrop of cultural displacement, linguistic adaptation, and identity negotiation, this study examined the role of oral tradition in preserving cultural identity amongst Nigerians of the diaspora. It also interrogated how oral practices—often considered antiquated or informal within Western paradigms—function as enduring technologies of cultural continuity. Guided by multi-generational voices that reflect the evolving nature of oral expression across diasporic contexts, the findings of this study indicate that oral tradition remains a powerful mechanism through which diasporic Nigerians preserve cultural identity, maintain connections to their ancestral heritage, and transmit cultural knowledge across generations. This study offers theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for cultural preservation, education, and engagement within Nigerian diasporic communities. Moreover, it contributes to communication scholarship by challenging Western-centric models and re-centering orality as a legitimate and vital epistemology. Ultimately, this study honors the voices of those who carry tradition forward—not as a static inheritance, but as a living, breathing story woven across generations and geographies.

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