1st Edition

Minority Languages and Audio-Visual Content in Africa

Edited By Limukani Mathe, Oswelled Ureke, Dumisani Moyo Copyright 2026
248 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

248 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book examines audio-visual content production in Africa, highlighting the ways in which the rise of social networking platforms has combatted the marginalisation of minority languages across the continent. Colonial languages have tended to dominate audio-visual narratives in Africa, and although postcolonial film and video production initiatives have tried to counter this, in practice they... Read more

Chapter 1: Conceptualising Minority Language Culture in Audio-Visual Content: A Symbolic Cultural Perspective    

Limukani Mathe, Oswelled Ureke, Dumisani Moyo

  

THEME 1: DIGITAL CREATIVITY IN MINORITY CONTENT PRODUCTION        

Chapter 2: Endangered Species: Indigenous Languages and Online Comedy in Malawi    

Eric Mtemang’ombe and Albert Sharra

 

Chapter 3: Transformation of Filmmaking to Vernacular Digital Creativity in Kenya: The Case of Riverwood

Rachael Diangá and Doreen Sikolia

 

Chapter 4: Digital Cultural Creativity and Audience Reception in Sesotho: A TikTok Content Analysis

Nketsi Moqasa, Teboho Mokonyana, Sekoai Elliot Nkhi and Mongali Mofana

 

Chapter 5: Ethnolinguistic Vitality of Amazigh Language in Morocco: The Case of Tamazight YouTube Channel          

Bouylagman Ibrahim

 

THEME 2: MULTILINGUAL REALITIES AND MINORITY LANGUAGE AUTONOMY IN AUDIO-VISUAL CONTENT  

Chapter 6: Code-Switching and Dialectal Dynamics: Exploring Setswana Preservation on Motsweding FM’s Facebook Podcasts    

Gofaone Motsamai, Gilbert Motsaathebe and Limukani Mathe

 

Chapter 7: Nollywood Films and Transactional Multilingual Communication for Minority Language Inclusion in Nigeria          

Linda Dooshima Kuku and Israel Ayinla Fadipe

 

Chapter 8: Social Media and Tonga Content Creatives in Zambia: Audio-Visual Entertainment 

Elastus Mambwe

 

Chapter 9: Platform Capitalism, Video Content Circulation and Minoritized Languages: A Case of uMkhosi woMhlanga (Reed Dance) in South Africa          

Linda Olive Pona , Matsobane Lehlogonolo Masuku and Kealeboga Aiseng

 

THEME 3: CINEMATIC AESTHETICS AND FILMIC CONTENT IN MINORITY LANGUAGES         

Chapter 10: The ‘Ndebeleness’ in/of Raisedon Baya’s isiNdebele language Umhlolo wase Zhwane video film 

Oswelled Ureke and Nkosilesisa Kwanele Ncube

 

Chapter 11: Reel Revival: Digital Filmmaking as a Tool for Minority Language Preservation in Ghana

Moses Agyemang and Manfred A. K. Asuman

  

Chapter 12: Tanzania’s Early Swahili Cinema Cultures: Steven Kanumba’s Social Narration in Bongowood Digital Filmmaking    

Addamms Songe Mututa

Biography

Limukani Mathe (PhD) is a Research Associate at the University of South Africa. He was a Research Fellow and Lecturer at North-West University in South Africa. Prior to that he was Lecturer and Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg and Guest Lecturer at the University of Fort Hare. His research interests are at the intersection of digital culture, journalism practices and indigenous text in the Global South. Mathe has edited books, contributed book chapters and published in high impact journals. He recently published African Radio and Minority Languages: Participation and Representation (Routledge, 2025).

Oswelled Ureke is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at University of Johannesburg. His research interests are in screen media studies, political economy of the media and digital media studies.

Dumisani Moyo is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at North-West University (South Africa). He is Professor of Media and Communication Studies, and his research interests include media policy and regulation; and media, politics, culture and technology in Africa, and he has published widely in these areas.