Oral Histories Are Being Recorded For Families Around The World and Made Searchable on a Computer

Many nations kept records through oral traditions. Tribal elders or someone designated by the village would memorize the names and history. This work is being saved and transferred to a digital record. 

Family Search Makes Oral Genealogies Available 

Starting way back in the 1960s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints began recording the oral histories of people in the Pacific Islands. This expanded to Asian countries in later decades. 

In the last few years there has been a push to get to record the oral genealogies in African countries before those who remember it pass on. Many of these records have been transposed to a digital format and are available online. 

In Africa Generations Were Memorized More Than Written Down 

Family Search has sent out teams with a digital recorders to interview the chief of clans, families, and tribes. These oral histories can go back six or seven generations straight from their memories. It has been a big project. 

It took time to take these recordings and transfer them to a computer so they can be searched. With the help of AI and an army of volunteers, this work is beginning to bear fruit. You can see some of the available records at Family Search. 

Read More: Family History Research in Utah Now Uses Powerful AI

It is amazing how much can be memorized and stored by these keepers of the oral traditions. And it is cool to see it now available at the click of a mouse.