Affirming methodologies—the Caribbean oral tradition of Ole Talk

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increasing use of oral traditions in research due to their ability to engage with communities, and of the salience of oral modes of interaction to construct and share knowledge. The flexibility and fluidity of oral traditions allow for a more relational approach to research and equalize the power between the researcher and those who share their knowledge in the research process. The use of oral research traditions, to more effectively capture the realities of communities, highlights the potential of cultural practices as relevant research methodologies. This paper explains the concept of Affirming Methodologies as a framework for oral research traditions which are considered to be of value and relevance to their communities. The oral research tradition of Storytelling, incorporating Ubuntu Storytelling, Pūrākau, Talanoa, Talking Circles, Yarning, Halaqah, and Digital storytelling is discussed in the context of affirming research methodologies and methods. Ole Talk, a Caribbean interactional mode of communication, is explored as an oral research tradition within the Affirming Methodologies framework.