Abstract
The digital revolution is reshaping how cultures are preserved, transmitted, and represented. For the Urhobo people, whose identity is deeply tied to oral traditions, language, and communal practices, the rise of ICT, social media, and artificial intelligence presents both unprecedented opportunities and serious risks. This paper examines how digital platforms and AI technologies are influencing Urhobo studies, language preservation, and cultural expression in the 21st century. The paper interrogates the role of social media in amplifying Urhobo voices globally, while also assessing how algorithmic biases and digital homogenization may marginalize indigenous knowledge. The paper explores AI-driven tools for Urhobo language documentation and translation, alongside community-led initiatives using ICT to sustain music, festivals, and oral heritage. It argues that integrating Urhobo epistemologies into the digital sphere is not merely about preservation but about innovation positioning, Urhobo culture as an active contributor to the evolving global digital humanities. By bridging tradition and technology, this study demonstrates that the future of Urhobo identity lies in harnessing digital power responsibly, ensuring thatAI and ICT become tools of empowerment rather than erasure.
