Toyin Falola@65 Conference: African Knowledge and Alternative Futures

A defining moment for me at the Toyin Falola@65 Conference titled “African Knowledges and Alternative Futures” that ran from the 29th to the 31st of January 2018 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, was the declaration at a paper presentation session by a scholar from a Nigerian university that the culture of making promotion of Nigerian academics dependent on publication in journals outside Nigeria, particularly from the West, is ultimately counterproductive to the development of a robust academic culture in Nigeria. “Do US or British academics, for example, have to publish in Nigerian journals?” he asked. This loaded question is at the heart of the challenges and paradoxes provoked by the conference. Another definitive encounter for me was another presenter’s outlining of the concept of an African, as different from an Asian or a Western epistemology or way of arriving at relating to knowledge. Yet another was Emmanuel Ofuasia’s explanation of what he describes as the Yoruba origin Ifa knowledge system’s anticipating of deconstructivist hermeneutics centuries before the development of this post-modern scholarly phenomenon in the West. Complementing these occurrences is yet another represented by Dr. Joan Ugo Mbagwu expounding on indigenous methods of conflict resolution and countering terrorism in Africa. I shall use these encounters as pivots in exploring the significance of the conference in the body of this essay.

Cultural Jugaad in historic city transformations: India

Several historic Indian cities have managed to retain the original urban character by using readily available materials, craftspeople, and cultural traditions despite increasing urban transformations. This notion of sustaining/preserving/continuing certain cultural elements and rituals has survived in various forms in the last two centuries. Historic cities showcase their living heritage at the global level and are exemplars for studying the strong linkages within traditions and indigenous modes of preservation. In such situations where stakeholders have centuries of association with the site, it is essential that professionals look beyond conventional solutions to better understand local perceptions and thereby establish the appropriateness of any urban level interventions. This article draws from various urban conservation works carried out in the historic cities of Rajasthan over the last two decades. It illustrates the discoveries and challenges in understanding the traditional local mindset for working in such areas. The indigenous methods practiced in these historic living cores are often at variance with the norms and logics of Western city planning being followed in post-colonial India. Examples in the cities and settlements of Jaipur, Udaipur and Ajmer, feature in this article, highlighting the urgent need to understand the local community mindset and the Indian approach to solutions for rapidly modernizing historic urban centres

Indigenous Fishing Methods of the Moyon Tribe of Manipur (India) and Myanmar

Fishing is one of the main economic activities of the Moyon tribe living in Manipur (India), and Myanmar. For many centuries, Moyons used indigenous methods for fishing. However, in recent years, indiscriminate fishing using modern technologies has led to an ecological crisis which not only affected the ichthyofauna diversity but also affected the livelihood of individuals depending on fishing as well as the sustainability of the indigenous fishing methods. The paper explores the indigenous fishing techniques and practices of the Moyon tribe. The study adopted a qualitative-exploratory research method with ethnography as the primary component. Data were collected from on-site observations of fishing and discussions with the local Moyon population. The study revealed that indigenous fishing methods have become unsustainable due to misuse by the fishers. Another significant observation was the shift in fishing methods from traditional to modern (market) gears. The recently used fishing gears are a threat to the fish population, aquatic ecosystem, and indigenous knowledge of fishing crafts. The study concludes that unsustainable fishing by the Moyon tribe is connected with poverty and the lack of development and education.

Erosion Quantification and Management: Southeastern Nigeria Case Study

Soil erosion in Southeastern Nigeria is assuming an unusual dimension despite efforts by successive governments to control the phenomenon. Agronomic activities on eroding surfaces can give rise to landscapes much different from the original. Research activities in erosion quantification, the findings and how their applications have contributed to soil erosion management are highlighted. A key factor is the community efforts which have been relegated to a top-down approach occasioned by land use, land tenure and technological changes. The system is often a preventive management approach which achieves ecological and economic benefits. This chapter also discusses the indigenous methods of soil conservation and proposes their inclusions for sustainable management. To manage soil erosion in the region, emphasis must be placed on preventive management rather than crisis-management. Such approach will ensure that fewer resources are expended and land is appropriately conserved. To this end, soil can play its many environmental roles adequately.

Multidisciplinary Indigenous research: Preliminary findings of a scoping review of Canadian scholarship (1997 to 2020)

Research in Indigenous contexts has historically been associated with colonialism. To counter this, recent Indigenous research re-centers knowledge production on Indigenous worldviews and voices. As a settler ally, I have conducted a scoping review of Canadian Indigenous research using a mixed method approach (Western and Indigenous), adopting Arksey and O’Malley (2005) scoping methodology (for initial five steps) and Kovach’s (2010) Indigenous conversational method for consultations. The aim of this scoping review is to map out the praxis of Indigenous research by examining current epistemological trends, the diversity of Indigenous methods used and the role of researcher positionality in Indigenous research. Preliminary findings (before consultations) based on 46 papers across disciplines, point out to an increase in the number of Indigenous research projects conducted in Canada in the last five years. There is also evidence of substantial efforts by scholars to engage in respectful and reciprocal research partnerships with Indigenous partners.

Crop Protection Practices in Traditional Agriculture in mid-hills of Western Nepal: A Case of Palpa and Gulmi District

A field survey was conducted in two districts­­ of western hills of Nepal during July-August, 2020 to study about the practices of traditional methods of horticultural crop disease management. A total of 125 farmers, 10 traders, 5 agro-vets, and 3 plant clinical doctors from four local bodies of two districts; Palpa and Gulmi, were selected for the interviews which employed a pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Almost half of the farmers interviewed (48%) were found to have an average level of knowledge regarding the application of indigenous methods. Mixture of kerosene and ash, mugwort solution, plant residues, bovine dung and urine, chilli powder, papaya leaves, onion mixed with garlic, etc. were popular as traditional techniques to effective control of disease and pest. Scaling technique used in this study showed the lack of indigenous information as the most serious constraint in adoption of traditional means, followed by lack of advertisement, poor social perception of farmers, and weak cooperation among social and agricultural scientists. The study recommended that documentation and scientific validation of indigenous means and support from government and extension agents are necessary to encourage farmers using traditional means. This study examines traditional diseases/pests control strategies implemented by the ancients and presently adopted in ongoing practices. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 9(2): 138-151.

Indigenous methods and knowledge: Maternal health policy and practice in Ethiopia, Africa

This methodological article explores using Indigenous methodologies to elicit, gather, and report Indigenous knowledge as it relates to maternal health and mortality in the North Wollo Zone of Ethiopia. The authors demonstrate how attention to recruitment procedures (i.e. researcher and research assistant familiarity with the zone), data collection (i.e. interviews, visual dialogues, and observations), and data analysis (i.e. Circles and talking pieces) facilitated the elicitation and gathering of Indigenous knowledge. The authors contend using Indigenous methodologies to elicit, gather, and report Indigenous knowledge is essential to developing and implementing effective maternal health and mortality policies and programs in the region.

Adoption and Dis-Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture: A Case of Farmers’ Innovations and Integrated Fruit Fly Management in Kenya

The invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis poses a major threat to the production and trade of mango in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers devise different innovations to manage the pest in an attempt to minimize yield loss and production costs while maximizing revenues. Using survey data obtained from Embu County, Kenya, we analyzed farmers’ knowledge and perception as regards the invasive fruit fly, their innovations for the management of the pest, and the determinants of their adoption and dis-adoption decisions of recently developed and promoted integrated pest management (IPM) technologies for suppression of the pest. The results show that farmers consider fruit flies as a major threat to mango production (99%) and primarily depend on pesticides (90%) for the management of the pest. Some farmers (35%) however use indigenous methods to manage the pest. Though farmers possess good knowledge of different IPM strategies, uptake is relatively low. The regression estimates show that continued use of IPM is positively associated with the gender and education of the household head, size of a mango orchard, knowledge on mango pests, training, contact with an extension officer, and use of at least one non-pesticide practice for fruit fly management, while IPM dis-adoption was negatively correlated with the size of the mango orchard, practice score and use of indigenous innovations for fruit fly management. We recommend enhancing farmer′s knowledge through increased access to training programs and extension services for enhanced adoption of sustainable management practices for B. dorsalis.

Reflexive Reflection Co-created with Kehte-ayak (Old Ones) as an Indigenous Qualitative Methodological Data Contemplation Tool

The aim of this paper is to propose a new way of understanding data contemplation for Indigenous methodologies. There is a need for Indigenous methods that allow us to explore and organize findings that are steeped in the contextualized story and grounded in the research relationship. A study that asked Cree Kehte-ayak (Old Ones) about the relevance in harmonizing Indigenous and Western ways of knowing in healing from addiction shows that Reflexive Reflection (RR) offers a respectful way for discovery. RR offers epistemological underpinnings for data consideration when engaging Indigenous methodologies. Culturally rooted addictions research can contribute to Indigenous wellness and cultural renewal by bringing awareness to the link between colonialism and addiction and by actively re-centring an Indigenous worldview and governance in the research process (Hall et al., 2015). While challenging colonialism is vital, the strength of Indigenous culture must be central to the overall project, with relational accountability that implies all parts of the research process are related, and that the researcher is responsible for nurturing and maintaining this relationship with the research process and with “all relations.” Indigenous research inquiry involves moments of contemplation that explore dreams, intuition, teachings, and connection to land. It also involves spending intimate hours listening to stories of the “old ones” that are rooted in a sense of kinshipresponsibility that relay culture, identity, and a sense of belonging that are essential to the life of the researcher. Reframing the language around aftercare services for Indigenous Peoples can take place through reflexive investigation and knowledge creation.