Winnowing and Sifting Indigenous Knowledge

The aim of this book is to revisit the African past in search of values and knowledge that might be used in tandem with modern ways to create a more sustainable future. The African tradition has sustained human life since time immemorial, and represents a wealth of knowledge: pre-colonial Africa had many flourishing cultures and a wide variety of economic activities. This way of life was deep rooted in African values of ubuntu, informed mainly by a humanistic and communitarian ethic. In their interaction with the environment, African communities were largely in harmony with their environment. This was facilitated through taboos, which were meant to protect the environment, as well as through storytelling and the totem system. After colonization, new cultures gradually replaced tradition, and new values were introduced to African life. Modern ways of production were also ushered in, including agricultural mechanization in farming, which supported for an expanding population but further undermined traditional methods. This book asks how the benefits of contemporary practice can be combined with traditional African values in the pursuit of a more sustainable way of life. It will be of interest to all those studying Indigeneous knowledge systems and their applicability to current and future society in Africa.