African Indigenous Knowledge and Its Relevance to Environment and Development Activities

Abstract

"The nature of indigenous and post-colonial 'traditional' rural Africa, and the constraints or challenges this poses to the current maintenance and practical use of TEK, including the future transmission among indigenous Africans and development planners alike are examined. Main traditional livelihoods and land-use practices which sustainably exploit the ecosystem include sedentary and shifting agriculture, nomadic pastoralism, hunting, fishing, food gathering, rain forest use and limited agroforestry for food materials and medicines, etc. This is demonstrated, where possible, with case studies involving the following regions of African tribal groups: Kenya--Maasai; Tanzania--Pare, Zaramo, Luguru; Niger -- Fulani; and the San of the Kalahari.

"A few promising options for development agencies to improve their understanding of dynamics of renewable resource management were outlined for integrating TEK into modern resource planning techniques such as environmental assessment and proactive environmental programming. Other promising TEK management applications include: i) Adaptive environmental management approach; ii) Participative rapid rural appraisal; iii) Popular education; and iv) Indigenous peoples and habitat conservation areas."