African journal of social work, 82, december 2018 46. Culture, indigenous knowledge and development in africa. This paper exposes some of the indigenous knowledge systems iks that have been practised immemorial by the kalanga people of zaka district in masvingo in order to manage and protect their environment from land degradation. Submissions african journal of indigenous knowledge systems. International journal of politics and good governance volume viii, no. The use of indigenous knowledge has been seen by many as an alternative way of promoting development in poor rural communities in many parts of the world.
The concept of african indigenous knowledge systems aiks also delineates a cognitive structure in which theories and perceptions of both nature and culture are conceptualized hoppers. On the hegemony of international knowledge in tier 1 highimpact. Implications for higher education, based on the south african experience. Library philosophy and practice ejournal libraries at. Sabinet african journals reliable research that offers more than 500 african journals, including the african journal archive. Traditional african cultural practices paved the way for foreign way of doing things as africans became fully westernised. It affirms the suitability of the afrocentric paradigm in african research and argues the necessity for an emancipatory and participatory type of research which values. Based on this discrepancy, it is the role of this paper to explore the dynamics of how theoretical frameworks can be aptly interrelated with indigenous knowledge in an. The south african journal of information management explores the latest developments and trends in information and knowledge management to offer research that can be used to further the application of sound information and knowledge management practice. Role of traditional health practitioners taskshifting and hivaids care dr mosa moshabela director, radar. Arguments in favour of recognizing the importance of indigenous knowledge range. The journal is published for the purpose of advancing scholarship in disability studies and rehabilitation sciences in a uniquely african context. The history of indigenous systems in solving disputes and peace building in zimbabwe dates back to the pre colonial era where elders and community leaders met to resolve local conflicts and disputes using their own indigenous knowledge mechanisms. In we present various perspectives on african indigenous knowledge systems aik from a wide range of scholars.
The central idea of this article is based on the presumption that social workers should intervene in a. The paper unfolds by highlighting some of the areas in which the modern eurocentric philosophy of education has alienated and affected some of africa s indigenous education systems. The name indilinga stands for the circle orientation of indigenous african communities which is exhibited in their material culture and behaviour. Trends and challenges of traditional medicine in africa. Case study of murehwa, tsholotsho and chiredzi districts. The call for the interfacing of iks with other knowledge systems is based on tenets.
The indigenous knowledge systems are a significant resource which would contribute to the increased efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability in environmental conservation among rural communities of developing countries in particular. Much research has been done on indigenous knowledge systems iks at african universities but the results are inaccessible as they remain scattered all over in researchers offices, yet ik plays a. Although african indigenous knowledge systems aiks have existed for thousands of years, their concept and practice began to emerge in the science spheres only three decades ago. Theoretical frameworks and indigenous knowledge systems. African indigenous knowledge unl digital commons university.
While demonstrating that there is indeed an african indigenous knowledge and that it is multifaceted and dynamic, it also hints by way of many loops in the articles, at the need for ongoing and further research. Iajiks represents a variety of cross disciplinary interests in ethnomethodology and. Indigenous knowledge systems in the use and management of. Pdf african indigenous knowledge and research researchgate. Indilinga african journal of indigenous knowledge systems. Indigenous knowledge systems iks refer to the complex set of knowledge, skills and technologies existing and developed around specific conditions of populations and communities indigenous to a. South africa s databases were all selected from the southern african bibliographic information network sabinet, i. Banjo a d, lawal o a, owolana o a, ashidi j s, dedeke g a, soewu d a, owara s o, sobowale o a.
Jul 03, 2011 however, the arrival of the europeans marked a significant turning point in the history of this agelong tradition and culture. Indigenous knowledge systems a rich appropriate technology resource. Anticolonial educational perspectives for transformative change. African indigenous knowledge systems and human rights. Introduction 15 indigenous knowledgebased vegetable garden projects in lekgophung village in the northwest province of south africa. An inaugural lecture by anwar osman centre for africa studies 1.
Pdf indigenous knowledge is the unique knowledge confined to a particular culture or society. Yoruba god, power, and the imaginative frontiers edited by toyin falola. Indigenous knowledge and climate change in africa indigenous knowledge systems and climate change management in africa 5 acronyms acp african, caribbean and pacific bbmfs butha bothe machobane farming system. Decolonizing the university, knowledge systems and disciplines in africa edited by sabelo j. African journals online ajol is the worlds largest and preeminent platform of african published scholarly journals. Protection of tribalindigenous knowledge traditional. The most commonly cited definition of indigenous knowledge is that of louise grenier 1998. African indigenous knowledge and social work practice. Indigenous knowledge systems indigenous knowledge systems are a body of knowledge, or bodies of knowledge of the. South africa is a multicultural society with diverse indigenous cultural communities. The role of indigenous knowledge systems in rural smallholder. Indigenous african knowledge is vulnerable because many of the carriers of this knowledge are dying without the documentation of these knowledges. Pdf indigenous african knowledge systems and innovation in.
Providing a unique perspective on alternative knowledge systems, this publication is a critical resource for sociologists. Indigenous knowledge and developing countries innovation. A dair, puhan, and vohra 1993 us e the term indigenization to describe the blending of an imported discipline with the generation of new concepts and approaches from within a culture p. Curriculum and indigenous education for technological advancement dr hamiltonekeke, jt and dr dorgu, ebiere theresa. African indigenous knowledge systems and relevance of. In africa, indigenous knowledge systems iks are holistic and produces a deep understanding of the. Finally, the paper argues that iks is also in some way, some form of the former.
This paper seeks to heighten awareness about the need to include indigenous knowledge in the design and implementation of research, particularly disability research, in africa. Indigenous knowledge and climate change in africa indigenous knowledge systems and climate change management in africa 5 acronyms acp african, caribbean and pacific bbmfs butha bothe machobane farming system bbnmfs butha bothe nonmachobane farming system caf cancun adaptation framework cbd central business district ccaa climate change adaptation in africa cof climate. Juxtaposing postcolonial theory by jacob mapara jacob. The spirit of the african worldview includes wholeness, community and harmony which are deeply embedded in cultural values. Accordingly, the relationship between the indigenous knowledge, its holders, and the technologies and devices used for its application are.
The garden projects were initiated by rural women to use their local knowledge of farming and indigenous plants to alleviate their poverty situation. Ndlovugatsheni and siphamandla zondi democracy in africa edited by saliba sarsar and julius o. International journal of african renaissance studies multi, inter and transdisciplinarity. Indigenous knowledge systems a rich appropriate technology. The above kiswahili quotation, said to me during fieldwork by a smallscale farmer in coast region in tanzania, translates into english.
The characteristics of indigenous knowledge systems. Prior to the arrival of european settlers in the cape colony in 1652, formal and informal educational practices through the transmission of indigenous knowledge from adult to child had long been in existence among the khoi, the san and the. Indigenous knowledge in the namibian innovation system. Indigenous knowledge as a key to sustainable development. The handbook of research on theoretical perspectives on indigenous knowledge systems in developing countries presents interdisciplinary research on knowledge management, sharing, and transfer among indigenous communities. Prospect of integrating african indigenous knowledge systems.
Pdf african journal of environmental science and technology. Fundamental questions about access and control, ownership and authorship test rationalities of library and archival management. The interrogation on the role of african indigenous knowledge systems in. Culture, indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable. Indigenous knowledge systems and education1 ray barnhardt and angayuqaq oscar kawagley a few years ago, a group of alaska native elders and educators assembled to identify ways to more effectively utilize the traditional knowledge systems and ways of knowing embedded in the native com. Decolonizing and indigenizing evaluation practice in. African indigenous knowledge systems and relevance of higher. Indigenous knowledge protection and secrecy nonreciprocal practices one sided approach. Contextspecific knowledge that communities have developed for themselves over long periods of time that have allowed them to live in their environment. Indigenous persons with disability in africa, even the illiterate, do have something to contribute to the process of knowledge acquisition.
According to the world health organisation who who, 1976. African indigenous knowledge systems and relevance of higher education in south africa indigenous knowledge systems as a tool for making higher education relevant to the developmental challenges in south africa and african at large muya, 2007. Indigenous knowledge systems iks refer to local, peasant, traditional knowledge, or african farming systems. Furthermore, the ncrst established the national council for indigenous knowledge systems nciks in 2014 to facilitate indigenous knowledge systems in all sectors and enhance, recognize, develop, and promote the value and role of indigenous knowledge and technology for development and advise education, practices and intellectual property right. The indigenous people in namibia have long traditions of applying ik. Western culture now is regarded as frontline civilisation. International journal of asian social science, 20, 31.
Western science appropriates indigenous knowledge of plants, animals, and medicines and access to patents for biodiversity is controversial as well as. The argument in this conceptual paper is that the advent of modern type western education has resulted in the dearth of the importance of indigenous forms of knowledge in africa. Namibias recent past as a colony of south africa created a formal negative attitude toward ik by. Adekunle diaspora and imagined nationality koleade odutola es. Access and control of indigenous knowledge in libraries and. African indigenous knowledge systems and relevance of higher education in south africa. Decolonizing the university, knowledge systems and. Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental management. African journal of indigenous knowledge systems iajiks.
The current situation in africa is that theory has been given a nominal role in defining practice in education shouler, 2008. Sa journal of information management south african journal. With africa subjugated and dominated, the western culture and european mode of civilisation began to thrive and outgrow african cultural heritage. Indigenous knowledge and sustainable development in africa. This article explores the question of using western notions of property and ownership to indigenous knowledge systems and how to protect traditional knowledge through intellectual property law. The journal has been motivated by the need for a dependable expression for critical. It has been argued that as africa enters into a new phase of knowledge development, disciplines like social work are equally asked to rethink their methods and theories to embrace this emerging challenge. Indigenous knowledge systems iks comprise knowledge systems. Ajol is a non profit organisation that cannot function without donations. We publish brief extracts from scholarly works on the subject and also make selected videofilms, on the subject, available. Indigenous knowledge systems and the curriculum springerlink. Handbook of research on theoretical perspectives on. Much research has been done on indigenous knowledge systems iks at african universities but the results are inaccessible as they remain scattered all over in. Pdf african journal of environmental science and technology role of indigenous knowledge systems in the conservation of the biophysical environment among the teso community in busia countykenya fuchaka waswa, omoyeni fulani, and samuel abanyie academia.
Indigenous knowledge systems are holistic in nature i. They are continually influenced by creativity, experimentation and contact with external systems. Iajiks represents a variety of cross disciplinary interests in ethnomethodology and in qualitative methods. Indigenous knowledge systems iks comprise knowledge systems that have developed within various societies independent of, and prior to, the advent of the modern scientific knowledge system. Prospect of integrating african indigenous knowledge systems into the teaching of sciences in africa. Widely read by scholars, professionals and students, it encourages scholarly exchange between all disciplines and academics from low, middle and highincome countries to work towards the improvement of human development and its practices across the. An ethnozoological survey of insects and their allies among the remos ogun state south western nigeria indilinga african journal of indigenous knowledge system. Ajol and the millions of african and international researchers who rely on our free services are deeply grateful for your contribution. African journal of science, technology, innovation and development. Indigenous knowledge or african knowledge, here used interchangeably, is experiential knowledge based on a worldview and a culture that is basically relational. Towards an africa philosophy of education for indigenous. The journal has been motivated by the need for a dependable expression for critical and analytical writing on issues related to production, dissemination and recognition of indigenous knowledge systems.
Also referred to as local knowledge, indigenous knowledge is a set of perceptions, information, and practices that guide local community members in terms of how to best use their local. Exploring and promoting the value of indigenous knowledge. As in many places, ik is contextsensitive, so it and its application vary according to the context and the people. It is the most comprehensive, searchable collection of fulltext african electronic journals available on one platform. African indigenous knowledge and research owusuansah. African indigenous systems foster constructive change from the personal, rational, structural and cultural dimensions in order to construct good relations among societies. Pdf indigenous knowledge as a key to sustainable development. Iks from various cultures evolved into broad and comprehensive knowledge systems, such as those from ancient india, china and africa, that addressed societal and traditional knowledge issues in. Indigenous knowledge is the local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society.