Cultural Knowledge Transmission and Oral History: A Study among the Sadozai Tribe of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

Oral history is a vital means of preserving indigenous knowledge, collective memory, and cultural identity in tribal societies where written historical records are limited. This study investigated the role of oral history in the transmission of cultural knowledge among the Sadozai tribe of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. A qualitative ethnographic research design was employed, and data were collected from 30 purposively selected households through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Participants included tribal elders (30.0%), household heads (40.0%), religious scholars (13.3%), and other knowledgeable community members (16.7%). Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns of cultural transmission and historical memory. The findings revealed that 100% of participants identified storytelling as the principal mechanism for preserving genealogy, migration history, and tribal identity. Furthermore, 96% highlighted the tribe's contribution to the 1947 liberation movement, while 94% acknowledged the leadership of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. Historical migration from Afghanistan (93%) and Pashtun ancestry (91%) remained central to collective identity. Despite substantial cultural assimilation, 95% of respondents reported the predominance of the Pahari language, 92% associated language change with long-term settlement in Kashmir, and 87% linked it to intermarriage with Kashmiri families. Nevertheless, traditional institutions, including the Loya Jirga, respect for elders, kinship solidarity, and genealogical traditions, continue to reinforce tribal cohesion. Cultural knowledge is transmitted through vertical, horizontal, and oblique pathways, primarily during family gatherings, weddings, funerals, and community assemblies. The study concludes that oral history remains a resilient mechanism for safeguarding the Sadozai tribe's intangible cultural heritage and recommends systematic documentation of oral narratives to ensure their preservation for future generations.