Hassan O. Kaya

African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Human Rights: Implications for Higher Education, Based on the South African Experience

ABSTRACT Africa has rich traditions and knowledge systems founded on the principles of caring for one another and the spirit of mutual support embedded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu. These collective values tend to be marginalised in international human rights standards built on western values. The standards were developed without broad-based consultation of the different value systems in Africa. Therefore, in order to inspire sustainable implementation among diverse cultures, dialogue to develop universal human rights and obligations based on the diversity of cultures and ways of knowing is needed. Using South Africas experience at two universities, the extent to which these institutions have attempted to incorporate African indigenous knowledge systems (AIKS) and human rights into the higher education curriculum is investigated. The implications for higher education and the human rights and development paradigms built on western knowledge systems are investigated. North-West University has been the pioneer of integrating AIKS into higher education in South Africa and is the only higher education institution in South Africa with an accredited IKS Teaching Programme at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels – which has been notably successful, albeit with some challenges. AIKS has also been integrated into research and teaching at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and has registered significant successes since 2012. The need to embed AIKS in the curriculum of higher education institutions is affirmed.

African indigenous ecology control and sustainable community livelihood in southern African history

Abstract Based on sources for African Indigenous Ecology Control and Sustainable Community Livelihood in Southern African history this article argues that political independence in the Southern African region has altered the historiography of the region and the African continent as a whole. Black Africans are now looking to the past for inspiration to constitute the foundations of sustainable livelihoods using their own indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) and resources. The indicatives of the African Renaissance also demand that we draw on the significance of the control by pre-colonial African communities of their ecosystems. Existing testimonies show prosperity among pre-colonial African communities in the region. The argument is that, in order to restore the historical achievements of Africans in the region, IKS should form a constitutive part of education.

African Indigenous Institutions and Contemporary Global Security

Abstract This is an examination of secondary sources to interrogate the role of African indigenous institutions in contemporary global security concerns. The paper advances the argument that contrary to colonial historical testimonies, pre-colonial African societies had developed their own indigenous institutions for conflict transformation, peace-building and security within and across cultures. Colonialism marginalized these indigenous institutions in the process of setting up new administrative structures to make their governance and economic exploitation easier. African cultural groups were forced into cohesive institutions which destroyed the roots of traditional governance and security. The marginalization of indigenous institutions still continues in the contemporary search for sustainable global peace and security against transnational terrorism. The paper recommends the development of a strong hybrid derived from interface of indigenous and modern institutions for peace-building and security.

Indigenous Knowledge of Wild-food Resources among Children in Tanzania

Abstract This is a case study of children’s knowledge of wild-food resources in three rural communities in Tanzania. The study argues that research on African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) on wild food resources marginalizes the theoretical and practical knowledge that children have on these resources. It was found that children, both boys and girls, had a wide knowledge of the wild food resources. This was acquired through social practice. They saw, heard, gathered, processed and ate these food resources. Girls had more theoretical to practical knowledge of wild-food plants, while boys demonstrated greater knowledge of wild animals and birds due their respective involvement in related activities. The study recommends that more research should be conducted to establish the local knowledge of children in different age groups and genders for AIKS curriculum development purposes.

Community-based Environmental Resource Management Systems for Sustainable Livelihood and Climate Change Adaptation: A Review of Best Practices in Africa

Abstract The study used secondary sources to review best practices in community-based environmental resource management systems for sustainable livelihood and climate change adaptation in Africa. The best practices were drawn from different parts of the continent. They included water, community/school gardens for food security and renewable energy projects. They demonstrated the importance of putting all knowledge systems including indigenous knowledge on an equal footing to expand the global pool of knowledge. This holistic approach of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) is in line with the African philosophy of Ubuntu which emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between humans and other forms of life. The paper recommends the importance of interfacing knowledge systems to produce sustainable strategies and best practices for community-based environmental resource management systems.

Interfacing ICT and Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Environmental Management in South Africa

Abstract The paper uses a survey of cases from South Africa to interrogate the prospects and challenges of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) for sustainable environmental management. The examples demonstrate the practical application of ICTs in collecting, storing and disseminating indigenous knowledge for culturally specific environmental issues. The paper advances the view that community-based ICT centres could be useful tools for facilitating the transmission of culturally specific environmental information and the promotion of interface between indigenous and other knowledge systems for community-based environmental management. This implies that ICT services should be designed to enhance these processes and community needs. This will make ICT more relevant, cost effective hence locally manageable and sustainable. Moreover, since most of the IKS in local communities are orally transmitted, the focus should be made on technologies that promote oral interaction such as audio-visual technologies and text to speech.

Sorghum as an Indigenous Drought Resistant Crop for Food Security in the North West Province of Cameroon

Abstract The paper uses a participatory and case study approach to discuss the importance of sorghum as an indigenous drought resistant crop for food security in the North-West province of Cameroon. It was found that sorghum was experiencing a decline in production due to: the colonial introduction of exotic cash crops, limited cultivation land and tenure insecurity, lack of farming equipment and government financial support to small-scale farmers. It is recommended that the government develop policy strategies to promote the cultivation of indigenous food crops; support the interface between indigenous and modern knowledge systems to improve production; promote indigenous knowledge awareness among government extension officers; support small-scale sorghum farmers, especially women, with modern inputs and equipment, finance and research for information on sorghum production, post-harvest and marketing channels. This will assist them to improve productivity and sustainability of sorghum production.

Cultural Values and African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract A number of examples in this paper are used to demonstrate the efficacy of culture and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in climate change adaptation. The analysis is based on examination of secondary sources. The paper advances the argument that climate change impacts on cultural communities differently because they live in diverse natural environments and experience it differently. This necessitates cross-cultural communication in the search of sustainable solutions to the challenges of climate change through shared experiences. Emphasis is put on the need to document and protect IKS for sustainability and policy development. There is also the need to understand the impact of globalization on agricultural practices and the importance of interfacing indigenous and other knowledge systems to meet its challenges.

Energy Resources and Environmental Conflicts in Africa: Implications on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Environmental Policy

Abstract Using a survey of secondary sources on energy rich countries in Africa as case studies, the study demonstrates that environmental challenges associated with energy resources create key challenges in the 21st century Africa. The arguments extended are that: despite Africa’s rich endowment with wealth in energy resources including oil and gas, which could have created sustainable development and peace, the respective countries are characterised by poverty, conflicts, corruption and human rights abuses. The use of indigenous knowledge approaches to conflict transformation over these resources has not been adequately researched to inform policy. These approaches tend to be marginalised in spite of their efficacy in other cases of conflict transformation. The paper recommends that the hybrid nature of these challenges also calls for hybrid nature policy strategies combining state institutions, civil society and indigenous knowledge system-based practices and ethics.

Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity for Sustainable Food Security in South Africa

Abstract This was an investigation into the role of African indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity in food security and nutrition. Both primary and secondary sources were used in the research process. Cases from South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province were used in the discussion, especially on the contribution of rural women as subsistence farmers and custodians of IK for biodiversity management. Their knowledge of biodiversity conservation and postharvest for food security tend to be undervalued in research and policy development. It is therefore suggested that in designing food security strategies and policies, this limitation need to be taken seriously.