Utilisation of Sketching as a Foundational Strategy for the Visual Interpretation of Tumbuka Folklore Narratives of Malawi

Abstract

Documenting and preserving folklore are crucial in the protection of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) since it ensures that the transmission of traditional knowledge and cultural identity of a community is passed on across multiple generations. However, the tradition of oral folklore storytelling, notably among the Tumbuka tribe in the Mzimba district, Malawi, faces serious threats due to modernisation, urbanisation, and the diminishing number of elder traditional knowledge bearers. While literature, digital sources, and some forms of visual art have emerged as techniques for conserving cultural narratives, the role of sketching, particularly as a preparatory stage in painting, remains underexplored. This study looked into how sketching, as a formative stage in painting practice, can be an effective tool in documenting, interpreting, and preserving Tumbuka folklore. In the study, these sketches served as visual interpretations of folklore, making the intangible cultural content accessible across linguistic and temporal boundaries. The study used secondary folklore narrative sources as data for the creation of sketches, which uses the exploratory research approach and structural narrative analysis. Through this method, 15 storyboards were developed as sequential visual narratives, each capturing key moments and themes from the selected folk tales. This approach integrated sketching with narrative analysis by visually mapping Proppian functions and character roles, demonstrating how visual sequencing can embody oral structures. By highlighting the significance of formative narrative sketching, the study helped to create a concrete method that effectively interprets the ICH of a community into a visual format, enhancing its dissemination. While focusing on the Tumbuka in Mzimba, its implications extend to broader cultural preservation initiatives in Malawi and other contexts