 Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Sustainable Development: Relevance for Africa Emmanuel K. Boon and Luc Hens (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium) 2007 • Pages: 264 • Size: 180x240 • ISBN 81-85264-44-9 • Binding: Hard • Price: US $ 75/- Rs. 1450/- (Tribes and Tribals Special Volume No. 1)
Knowledge refers to what one knows and understands. For many countries in the developing world, the basic component of their knowledge system is indigenous knowledge, which is also often referred to as traditional knowledge (World Bank, 1997). Indigenous knowledge refers to traditional and local knowledge existing within and developed around specific conditions of women and men indigenous to a particular geographic area in contrast with knowledge generated within the international system of universities, research institutes and private firms (Warren, 1991). Indigenous knowledge in Africa is an embodiment of different modes of thought and "epistemology". It is an appreciation of the possession of interconnected details, which in isolation, are of lesser value. Several studies have pointed to the increasing significance of knowledge and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in sustainable development (SD) in Africa and the developing world in general. The indigenous people of Africa and the world at large have a rich repertoire of knowledge based on their cultures, environments, natural resources, political, social and economic institutions that may be the key drivers for poverty reduction, livelihood improvement and sustainable development. Despite the serious erosion of IKS over the decades in many communities in Africa, they are still most relevant and appropriate for promoting SD of the continent. Far from being anachronistic in the contemporary world, these knowledge systems have much to offer development policy-makers, environmental managers, administrators, and stakeholders. The integration of IKS in policy formulation and the execution of development programmes and projects should be accorded much attention. This book aims to catalyse a positive change in the minds of development cooperation policy-makers, administrators, researchers, teachers, students and the other stakeholders in Africa and the other continents about the importance of IKS in sustainable development and poverty reduction. In fact, IKS are an appropriate avenue for appraising development paradigms being implemented in the continent. The book clearly underlines the importance of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) to sustainable development (SD) in Africa and the rest of the developing world. The concept of IKS, its theoretical underpinning and the extent to which indigenous knowledge is systematised and structured need to be properly understood. The book comprises of four parts. The first presents the introduction and discussion of eight key issues on indigenous knowledge systems. Sectoral case studies on IKS and sustainable development are presented in Part Two. The sectors covered include agriculture, architecture and human settlements and water resources. Part Three of the book deals with African sub-regional case studies: Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa. The final Part of the book presents a number of international case studies on IKS and sustainable development in Brazil, Peru, Philippines, Vietnam, the IUCN and UNEP.
CONTENTS
Preface and Acknowledgements
List of Contributors
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION AND KEY ISSUES
Chapter 1: Introduction, Luc Hens and Emmanuel K. Boon
Chapter 2: Keynote Address, Benjamin Van Camp
Chapter 3: A Comparative Overview of Academic Discourse on Indigenous Knowledge in the Middle East And Africa, Stale Knudsen
Chapter 4: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development in Africa: Democracy, Governance and Conflict Resolution, Michel Ansay
Chapter 5: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Need for Policy and Institutional Reforms, Kwame Ameyaw Domfeh
Chapter 6: Management and Indigenous Knowledge Systems: An Analysis of Motivational Values across Cultures, Osarumwense Iguisi
Chapter 7: Knowledge Systems and Traditional versus Modern Social Security Systems in Africa, Emmanuel K. Boon
Chapter 8: African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Patent Regime: Is the Patent System Relevant to the Native Healers of Southern Nigeria?, Ikechi Mgbeoji
Chapter 9: Contemporary Comparative Cultural Studies: Theory, Contexts and Trends, Rik Pixten
PART TWO: SECTORAL CASE STUDIES
Chapter 10: Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge in Rainfed Rice Based Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture: Learning from Indian Farmers, Ranjay K. Singh
Chapter 11: The Study of Water Supply and Traditional Water Purification Knowledge in Selected Rural Villages in Tanzania, Nancy Jotham, Gunno Renman and Gunnar Jacks
PART THREE: AFRICAN SUB-REGIONAL CASE STUDIES
Chapter 12: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development in Africa: Case Study on Central Africa, Charles Eyong
Chapter 13: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Sustainable Development in Africa: Case Study on Kenya, Davis Wekesa Barasa
Chapter 14: Enabling a Global Imperative of Sustainable Development through Indigenous (local) Ways of Knowing: a case of Southern African, Edgar Neluvhalanit
Chapter 15: Case Study on Southern African Development Co-operation (SDAC), Ndangwa Noyoo
Chapter 16: Case Study on West Africa, Emmanuel Akyeampong
PART FOUR: INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES
Chapter 17: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development in Brazil, Fernando Pires
Chapter 18: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Latin America, Norka Malpartida
Chapter 19: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Higher Education in the Philippines, Ricarte Abejuela III
Chapter 20: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of the Vietnam Mountain Regions, Tran Chi Trung, Le Xuan Quynh, Vu Van Hieu
Chapter 21: Challenges for the Maintenance of Traditional Biodiversity Knowledge in Latin America, Gonzalo Oviedo
Chapter 22: Indigenous People and Sustainable Development: How has UNEP contributed?, Sylvie Motard
Chapter 23: Summary and Conclusion, Emmanuel K. Boon
Index
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