Since time immemorial, indigenous peoples around the world have
developed knowledge systems to ensure their continued survival in their
respective territories. These knowledge systems have always been dynamic
such that they could meet new challenges. Yet, since the so-called
enlightenment period, these knowledges have been supplanted by the
Western enlightenment science or colonial science hegemony and arrogance
such that in many cases they were relegated to the periphery. Some
Euro-centric scholars even viewed indigenous knowledge as superstitious,
irrational and anti-development. This erroneous view has, since the
colonial period, spread like veld fire to the extent of being
internalised by some political elites and Euro-centric academics of
Africa and elsewhere. However, for some time now, the potential role
that indigenous peoples and their knowledge can play in addressing some
of the global problems haunting humanity across the world is
increasingly emerging as part of international discourse. This book
presents an interesting and insightful discourse on the state and role
that indigenous knowledge can play in addressing a tapestry of problems
of the world and the challenges connected with the application of
indigenous knowledge in enlightenment science-dominated contexts. The
book is not only useful to academics and students in the fields of
indigenous studies and anthropology, but also those in other fields such
as environmental science, social and political ecology, development
studies, policy studies, economic history, and African studies.
