Indigenous Knowledge - The Way Forwards or Backwards in Tropical Agricultural Development?

2020 ◽  
pp. 134-145
Author(s):  
D. Fielding ◽  
K. Kirsopp-Reed
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
The Way

scholarly journals Contemporary Art Practice and Indigenous Knowledge

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-128
Author(s):  
Gerald McMaster
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Traditional Knowledge ◽  
Contemporary Art ◽  
Art World ◽  
Art Practice ◽  
Knowledge Practices ◽  
Communal Sharing ◽  
Cultural Hero ◽  
The Way

AbstractIndigenous artists are introducing traditional knowledge practices to the contemporary art world. This article discusses the work of selected Indigenous artists and relays their contribution towards changing art discourses and understandings of Indigenous knowledge. Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau led the way by introducing ancient mythos; the gifted Carl Beam enlarged his oeuvre with ancient building practices; Peter Clair connected traditional Mi'kmaq craft and colonial influence in contemporary basketry; and Edward Poitras brought to life the cultural hero Coyote. More recently, Beau Dick has surprised international art audiences with his masks; Christi Belcourt’s studies of medicinal plants take on new meaning in paintings; Bonnie Devine creates stories around canoes and baskets; Adrian Stimson performs the trickster/ruse myth in the guise of a two-spirited character; and Lisa Myers’s work with the communal sharing of food typifies a younger generation of artists re-engaging with traditional knowledge.

Listening and Waiting, Excavating Later

2019 ◽  
pp. 177-201
Author(s):  
Peter R. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Significant Part ◽  
Oral Traditions ◽  
Community Archaeology ◽  
Ritual Performance ◽  
Epistemic Humility ◽  
Iron Technology ◽  
The Way

Careful listening to oral traditions, a significant part of Tanzanian Haya heritage, for nearly a year led to an ancient shrine where Haya elders encouraged excavations. This was early participatory community archaeology, where indigenous knowledge and the initiative of elders paved the way to significant archaeological finds about iron technology and the enduring qualities of knowledge preserved by ritual performance. Patient apprenticeship to knowledge-keepers during ethnoarchaeological observations of iron technology also led to significant insights into inventive techniques in iron technology that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. Listening with epistemic humility, opening ourselves to other ways of constructing history and heritage, unveils heritage under treat. A forgotten massacre by German colonials, the knowledge of which has been erased by disease and globalization, was revealed and is now preserved only by listening closely to Haya elders five decades ago.

scholarly journals Indigenous Knowledge of Climatic Conditions for Sustainable Crop Production under Resource-Poor Farming Conditions Using Participatory Techniques

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. O. Nethononda ◽  
J.J. O Odhiambo ◽  
D G Paterson
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Participatory Techniques

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><p>Rambuda irrigation scheme is situated in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province in South Africa. It was established in 1952 and farmers do not have access to recorded climatic information. Farmers are growing crops on a trial and error basis, hence low yields and crop loses. The objective of the study was to investigate indigenous knowledge of climatic conditions relevant for crop production using participatory techniques. Situation analysis was conducted to gain information on factors influencing crop choice. Participatory exercise was conducted with 33 of 104 of plot-holders. Farmers could identify climatic factors important for crop production and those limiting to crop performance. Hot, dry conditions during August to October and January months were limiting to crops, particularly sweet potato production. The results showed that indigenous knowledge of climate needs to be considered during agricultural development planning and scientists need to investigate linkages between modern agro-meteorology and indigenous knowledge.</p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span>

Towards sustainable cities: about redundancy, voids and the potentials of the land

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Roggema
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sustainable Cities ◽  
Traditional Values ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Mean Temperature ◽  
Extreme Change ◽  
Uncertain Future ◽  
Global Mean ◽  
The Way

Purpose With future (extreme) change ahead of us, there are many serious problems humankind has to face. The pace of mitigating climate change through an energy transition to renewables is slow, global mean temperature is increasing and sea level seems to rise at an accelerated pace. This puts many livelihoods at risk and communities have to face an uncertain future. Therefore, continuing the way contemporary cities are developing and developed is not an option. The new normal should also be reflected in urbanism. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the answer to this question is sought in understanding traditional attitudes to living and their relation to the land. How these cultures have been capable of coping with disruptions lies in the way their mental paradigm respects their environment. A more resilient future can be achieved when the traditional values of the relation of societies with the land they live on are considered important and indigenous knowledge and perspectives are used to design cities. Findings Current society seems to have forgotten what it means and how to put into practice sharing resources and space, giving back more to the environment than used to live. Also, mankind seems to be lacking the ability to move and search for the potentials where to live. Furthermore, choosing to live in safe places, hence being less vulnerable for disruptions, is a principle that has long been neglected. These characteristics of traditional cultures are translated in four principles that are valuable in design processes: first, making use of the energy and power a disaster might bring and turning it into an advantage; second, using imagination to anticipate an unknown future; third, accommodating all paces of urban change; and fourth, designing redundancy for flexibility. The use of these principles is illustrated in three Sydney-based examples. Originality/value The link between indigenous knowledge and current urban design practice is new.

scholarly journals The voice from the periphery: Towards an African business ethics beyond the Western heritage

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
MF Murove
Keyword(s):  
Business Ethics ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Homo Economicus ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge Systems ◽  
The Voice ◽  
The Way

This article argues that African business ethics should go beyond the western heritage by taking into account African indigenous values and knowledge systems. While western business practices are part and parcel of Africa’s heritage, African post-colonial scholarly efforts have worked at enriching this heritage by arguing for the incorporation of African indigenous knowledge systems and values in our way of thinking and doing business. There is a realisation that the western homo economicus who is solely self-interested, is irreconcilable with the African understanding of a person. The success of any business venture in Africa depends on incorporating African values in the way it operates.

Knowledge sharing strategies on traditional vegetables for supporting food security in Kilosa District, Tanzania

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-247
Author(s):  
Monica Samuel Chipungahelo
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Database ◽  
Traditional Vegetable ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge sharing on traditional vegetables for supporting food security among farmers and other communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach – A case study design was employed. Semi-structured questionnaires with both open- and closed-ended questions were used to collect quantitative data in three wards of Kilosa District in Tanzania. Interviews were used to collect qualitative data from three heads of farmer groups, and direct observation was used to validate findings obtained from questionnaires. Findings – The results showed that farmers used a socialisation approach to share indigenous knowledge about traditional vegetables on production, consumption and preservation. Research limitations/implications – The study necessitates a need to conduct regular studies on sharing knowledge of traditional vegetables among different communities for supporting food security. Practical implications – The paper provides a framework for agricultural development planners on how to improve the management of indigenous knowledge on traditional vegetables with scientific knowledge in local communities for improving food security in Tanzania. Social implications – The paper has an implication for improving knowledge-sharing strategies on traditional vegetables in supporting food security in Tanzania, and other parts of Africa and developed countries. There is a need for knowledge intermediaries to develop knowledge database on production, consumption and preservation of traditional vegetable to increase the dissemination of this knowledge and, hence, improve nutrition and food security. Originality/value – The paper provides appropriate knowledge-sharing strategies which are needed to improve sharing of indigenous knowledge about traditional vegetables in Tanzania and other developed and developing countries.

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