Digital storytelling from around the world. Kenyan legends

Date of release of electronic version under CC-BY-SA license: September 2024

This book was produced as part of the two programs:

GRANT OFFER: Research Grant, Other JeS Guarantee Calls
GRANT TITLE: Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment (CAPHE). Grant Ref: EP/X038572/1

HORIZON-MSCA-SE-2021 grant agreement Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment, No 101086391

Digital Storytelling from Around the World. Kenyan Legends

The monograph “Digital Storytelling from Around the World. Kenyan Legends” by Elżbieta Perzycka-Borowska and Dorota Hrycak-Krzyżanowska focuses on the interdisciplinary approach, combining tools and methods from digital humanities, deep contextual understanding from cultural studies, and pedagogical strategies from the field of education. This work transcends traditional research frameworks by applying digital tools to analysing and presenting Kenyan folklore, enabling a modern interpretation and distribution of traditional stories. Digital humanities introduce digital methods for text analysis, data visualisation, and interactivity, allowing new ways to engage audiences and researchers in Kenyan legends. Cultural studies, on the other hand, provide the necessary knowledge about the sociocultural context in which these legends operate, emphasising their significance for identity and cultural heritage. As the third pillar, education introduces a pedagogical perspective, demonstrating how digital storytelling can be used for teaching and learning, stimulating creativity, critical thinking, and intercultural understanding.

This research was conducted under two grants: 1) Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment (CAPHE), HORIZON-MSCA-SE-2021 (no. 101086391) and a British grant, UKRI (Ref: EP/X038572/1).

The book is divided into three parts, forming a comprehensive approach to the study and presentation of Kenyan folklore through the prism of digital storytelling. The introduction signals the basics of storytelling as a human activity related to social and individual identity and emphasises the role of digital media in reviving and preserving old narratives.

The first part is devoted to the theoretical foundations of digital storytelling, from traditional oral practices to contemporary digital forms. This analysis shows how digital media have changed how stories are told and expanded their reach, allowing them to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. Particular attention is given to the Kenyan perspective, with special emphasis on the Maasai and Luhya communities, highlighting the need to preserve the authenticity of oral traditions in the digitisation process.

The book’s second part focuses on the methodological aspects of transferring Kenyan legends from oral narratives to digital formats. It presents the research problems associated with digital storytelling and proposes a narrative process that respects the authenticity of the original stories, making them accessible to a wider audience.

The third section discusses the educational implications of digital storytelling in the context of Kenyan legends. This study highlights how this method can stimulate creativity, critical thinking, and appreciation of culture among learners. Incorporating digital storytelling into educational frameworks aims to create a more engaging and immersive educational experience reflecting Kenyan folklore’s richness.

The appendix contains a collection of Kenyan legends, which serve as a source for further research and a testament to the diversity and depth of Kenyan oral traditions. These stories are in a digital format that allows readers worldwide to familiarise themselves with Kenya’s cultural heritage.

The work of Elżbieta Perzycka-Borowska and Dorota Hrycak-Krzyżanowska combines traditional storytelling with modern technology, highlighting the opportunities that digital platforms offer for preserving and promoting cultural narratives. It significantly contributes to academic discourse and educational practice, offering content intended for educators, digital creators, and cultural practitioners. It represents an important voice in the discussion regarding digital humanities and intercultural education.