Records Management for Yoruba Oral Literature Collections at the National Archives Kaduna

The preservation of Yoruba oral literature recordings held at the National Archives Kaduna presents a specialised records management challenge at the intersection of archival science, audio-visual media preservation, and indigenous knowledge management. This study examines records management practices for Yoruba oral literature collections at the National Archives, Kaduna, North West Nigeria. Using a case study design, data were collected from archival officers, records management professionals, and external Yoruba language scholars through interviews, inventory assessments, and documentary review of acquisition records and condition reports. The study applies archival theory, audio-visual records management standards, and indigenous knowledge preservation frameworks to evaluate current practice. Reviewed literature on African oral literature archival management has identified severe resource constraints, inadequate digitisation, and limited professional training as systemic challenges. This study contributes specific empirical data from the Kaduna context, where geographical distance from Yoruba-speaking communities creates additional access and acquisition challenges. The research examines the physical and digital condition of existing Yoruba oral recordings, the metadata standards applied to these holdings, the access protocols governing researcher use, and the archival institution's capacity for preventive conservation. Findings are expected to reveal critical conservation risks for analogue recordings and limited metadata quality. Recommendations will address a systematic records management improvement plan, digitisation prioritisation, and professional development for archives staff handling Yoruba oral literature materials. Keywords: records management, oral literature, National Archives Kaduna, Yoruba collections, audio-visual preservation.