What is Indigenous Knowledge?

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) can be broadly defined as the knowledge that an indigenous (local) community accumulates over generations of living in a particular environment.  This definition encompasses all forms of knowledge – technologies, know-how skills, practices and beliefs – that enable the community to achieve stable livelihoods in their environment.   A number of terms are used interchangeably to refer to the concept of IK, including Traditional Knowledge (TK), Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK), Local Knowledge (LK) and Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS).

IK is unique to every culture and society and it is embedded in community practices, institutions, relationships and rituals.  IK is considered a part of the local knowledge in the sense that it is rooted in a particular community and situated within broader cultural traditions.  It is a set of experiences generated by people living in those communities.

IK is based on, and is deeply embedded in local experience and historic reality, and is therefore unique to that specific culture; it also plays an important role in defining the identity of the community.  It has developed over the centuries of experimentation on how to adapt to local conditions.  It therefore represents all the skills and innovations of a people and embodies the collective wisdom and resourcefulness of the community.

Indigenous Knowledge in Africa

IK is still intact among indigenous (local) communities in many parts of Africa. This knowledge has made it possible for the indigenous communities to live in harmony with their environment for generations. Over the centuries indigenous knowledge has guided indigenous peoples on how to sustainably utilise their natural resources using a variety of innovations to deal with environmental conservation and natural disaster management.  This knowledge, in line with African tradition, has been handed down orally from generation to generation.

IK has greatly assisted indigenous communities over time not only in the areas of conservation and disaster management, but also in those of economic sustainability and health through the application of traditional medical practises solely influenced by this Indigenous Knowledge.

Documented literature on IK is limited in Africa.   This knowledge is usually passed from generation to generation through traditional socialisation processes by elders of indigenous communities.  The reliability of this mode of information transfer is under threat in these modern times mainly due to the influx of western culture, higher levels of interaction between different communities, as well as the passing on of the custodians of this knowledge.

This website contains information on IK gathered from a study of four (4) African countries, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland and South Africa.

The website aims to ensure that

• This IK and its various applications are documented before it is lost forever.
• This information is made accessible to as many people as possible.
• Awareness of the importance of this knowledge is created amongst governments and policy makers so that they may begin to incorporate it in policy creation and various development programs.
• Custodians of this knowledge may have a forum through which they can share it with others.