study interrogates existing translation theories and practices, highlighting language barriers, cultural nuance and contextual complexity, as well as risks of misappropriation, unequal power

relations and institutional bias.

It demonstrates that collaborative, community-based models offer the most culturally sensitive route, ensuring linguistic fidelity and indigenous ownership. Framed by

postcolonial translation theory, the paper argues that while translation broadens access and scholarship, it must foreground native voices and protect textual integrity. Practical examples from

Tiv oral literature illustrate the need for participatory methods that replace top-down approaches with dialogic, inclusive processes.

Findings urge translators and scholars to reassess conventional

techniques and adopt frameworks that privilege indigenous epistemologies. The study concludes with concrete recommendations for ethical, community-driven translation protocols and calls for

sustained cooperation among indigenous communities, translators and academics to safeguard and share these living traditions responsibly.